Psychological life quality factors

Psychological Life Quality Factors

Psychological Security: Means the absence of fear or

distressing anxiety. Not being bullied or feeling threatened. Lack of psychological security can be

caused by having a serious illness – may be afraid of the possible effects of treatment or not getting well.

THINK OF YOUR OWN EXAMPLE.

Social Contact Means having the chance to be with other

people. Lack of social contact occurs when people

are isolated or withdraw from society. THINK OF THREE EXAMPLES OF WHO COULD

PROVIDE SOCIAL CONTACT IN A CARE SETTING AND THREE EXAMPLES OF WHEN THERE MAY BE A LACK OF SOCIAL CONTACT.

You might have thought of visitors in a hospital ward.

Other residents and/or staff in a residential care home

There may be a lack if a client chooses to stay in their room all the time in a care home…..

Social Support Means having a familiar and/or

trusted person to act on your behalf. Usually from family or friends –

parents, spouse and so on. Can be given by professionals, e.g.

nurses, social workers etc…….. THINK OF WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED

SOCIAL SUPPORT?

You might have thought of going to the doctor or dentist and being afraid. Having a parent or friend with you can provide you with psychological security.

You might have thought of starting a new job or college and being anxious.

There are many examples in care settings…….

Write a sentence explaining the difference between social contact and social support.

Approval Means being shown positive regard or

given praise and encouragement. This can lead to an increase in self-

esteem for the person being given approval.

THINK OF SOME EXAMPLES OF WHEN APPROVAL COULD BE ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN A CARE SETTING.

A client who successfully takes more steps when doing physiotherapy following an accident or stroke.

A person with anorexia eating some food………………

Occupation Means having something interesting

or worthwhile to do, such as a job, hobby or sporting activity.

Occupation can motivate people to act in positive ways and give people the belief that life has a purpose.

Stimulation Means the presence of stimuli

(events or activities) that increase a person’s arousal to a comfortable level, making life interesting and challenging,

Without stimulation a person may feel bored.

WRITE A COUPLE OF SENTENCES EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OCCUPATION AND STIMULATION. Use examples of each.

Privacy Means having the opportunity to be

undisturbed or unobserved by others in situations likely to cause embarrassment.

THINK OF SOME SITUATIONS IN CARE WHERE A CLIENT MAY LACK PRIVACY AND BE EMBARRASSED AS A RESULT.

Having to have nurses to help you into and out of the bath.

Not closing the curtains around your bed when discussing your illness or doing a wound dressing.

Not knocking on the door before entering a client’s room.

The last example is slightly different. In this case lack of privacy means having your ‘personal space’ invaded.

A final meaning of privacy means not having your belongings or personal possessions interfered with.

Dignity Means being provided by care

workers showing respect to clients and not demeaning them.

THINK OF TWO EXAMPLES OF DEMEANING BEHAVIOUR.

Addressing people in an over familiar way can be demeaning, e.g. by using nicknames and/or not asking the client how they would like to be addressed.

Giving people orders instead of asking for their cooperation and compliance

Choice Means having or being given the

opportunity to make decisions about your situation.

Choice gives people a sense of freedom.

Choices may include deciding what to eat, wear, watch on TV.

More important choices include what career to choose.

Autonomy Means having effective control over

your actions and being free from coercion.

An example might be a person deciding not to smoke even though friends try to persuade them to. This person has autonomy.

A person who would like to drink less alcohol but can’t lacks autonomy.

Choice and autonomy are often confused. A way to remember the difference is that choices are usually often about momentary events like where to sit or what to order from a menu whereas autonomy is more about long-term ability to shape life.

In care settings a person can be given choice but not autonomy.

THINK ABOUT THIS LAST STATEMENT AND EXPLAIN WHY.

Equitable treatment Means treating people fairly

according to their needs. Treatment may not be the seem as for others but is seen as fair, appropriate and not significantly better or worse.

THINK OF AN EXAMPLE WHERE PEOPLE MAY HAVE SIMILAR NEEDS THAT MAY BE TREATED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY.

2 people are waiting for a hip replacement and have been on the waiting list the same amount of time. One person is in more severe pain than the other and is therefore giving the first available appointment.

Effective communication Means enabling people to access

information they need and to influence those around them

Confidentiality Means preventing sensitive

information about a client from being made public unnecessarily.