Life is all about choice. How do we spend our free time, who do we spend it with, and what do we have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

They are choices most of us often take for granted. However, it’s quite common for people to lose their autonomy as they age, especially those who have entered an aged care facility. The nature of aged care facilities means aged care residents often do not have the ability to make choices.

For example, the menu will usually be prearranged, with residents having little input on what is on it.

Empowering aged care residents to make choices can have significant benefits for their health and wellbeing. The recently strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards underscore the importance of older Australians living the life they choose.

So what are the benefits of providing aged care residents with choice and what are some considerations?

Why it is important for aged care residents to have agency and autonomy?

· Improved health outcomes: Residents who are involved in the development of their treatment plans are more likely to adhere to them. For example, residents would be more likely to follow a nutrition plan if they had a say in the foods included in it.
· Improved mental health: Providing residents with a sense of agency can help to mitigate feelings of helplessness and depression. When residents are involved in the development of their care plans they suffer less stress and anxiety.
· Increased engagement and social interaction: Allowing residents to plan their own activities leads to increased engagement and social interaction.
· Building trust: When caregivers honour the wishes and preferences of aged care residents, this helps to build trust in the relationship.
· Helps diversity: Many older people will be from different cultural backgrounds and, therefore, will have different preferences as to how they receive their care. Listening to the wishes of residents means that caregivers can provide more culturally sensitive care.

Not only is it beneficial for older Australians to make their own decisions, but it is also a legal requirement. According to the Australian aged care standards, residents have the right to be involved in decisions about their care.

Tips to help aged care residents make decisions

· Be flexible: Caregivers should be open to what a person wants. They should be flexible enough to make changes to a routine to accommodate these wants. Tasks should be completed in the order residents want, not the order caregivers want. For example, if a resident prefers to have their shower in the evening rather than the morning, this preference should be respected. Try to see it how the resident sees it. What would you want if you were in their situation?

· Be accommodating: Even if a choice seems unreasonable, don’t immediately say no and try to see if there is a compromise that can be made. Reasonable and achievable choices should always be met.
· Provide reasonable choice: Giving residents a choice isn’t just about giving them two options, for example, fish or pasta for dinner. Instead, where possible, they should be allowed to choose what THEY want for dinner.

No matter your age, everyone has the right to live their life in the way they choose. Allowing older people to make decisions about their lives provides them with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Are you looking for a career in aged care. Aged Care Resumes can help. We are pleased to offer various services including our resume and cover letter writing service.

DPS Publishing (n.d.) Why considering resident choices in care is crucial in Australia , DPS Publishing, accessed 28 October 2024.

AusMed (12 April 2024) Redefining Consumer Choice in Aged Care: Exploring the Need for an Alternative Approach, AusMed, accessed 28 October 2024.