By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:

Work in a manner that upholds the Principles for Older Persons – independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment, and dignity

Older people's rights

In December 1991, the United Nations created a set of Principles for Older Persons – they recommended that all member governments should incorporate them into their frameworks for older people and their care.

They are based upon the following five principles:

Independence
Participation
Care
Self - fulfilment
Dignity

The following table outlines the specific aspects of each principle:

Right to:	Specific details

Independence	To access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing, and health care through the provision of income, family and community support and help; To work and pursue other income generating opportunities with no barriers based on age; To retire and participate in determining when and at what pace withdrawal from the labour force takes place; To access education and training programs to enhance literacy, facilitate employment, and permit informed planning and decision making; To live in environments that are safe and adaptable to personal preferences and changing capacities; To reside at home as long as possible

Participation	To remain integrated and participate actively in society, including the process of development and the formulation and implementation of policies which directly affect their well-being; To share their knowledge, skills, values and life experiences with younger generations; To seek and develop opportunities for service to the community and to serve as volunteers in positions; To form movements or associations of the elderly.

Care	To benefit from family support and care consistent with the well-being of the family; To access health care to help them maintain or regain the optimum level of physical, mental and emotional well-being and to prevent or delay the onset of illness; To access social and legal services to enhance capacity for autonomy and provide protection and care; To utilise appropriate levels of institutional care which provide protection, rehabilitation and social and mental stimulation in a humane and secure environment; To exercise human rights and fundamental freedoms when residing in any shelter, care and treatment facility including full respect for their dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy and for the right to make decisions about their care and quality of life.

Self-fulfilment	To pursue opportunities for the full development of their potential; To access the education, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources of society.

Dignity	To be treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status, and to be valued independently of their economic contributions; To live in dignity and security and to be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse; To exercise personal autonomy in health care decision making, including the right to die with dignity by assenting to or rejecting treatment designed solely to prolong life.

Source: http://www.sa.agedrights.asn.au/

All clients of aged care should be treated fairly and equally and your work behaviour should reflect this. This means delivering all the essential services to everyone who requires them without prejudice.

Therefore, the types of conditions and situations you need to provide services for regardless are:

Disabilities
Different cultural backgrounds
Different financial backgrounds
Different geographical locations
Different genders
Different beliefs
Sexual orientation.