For responsible assistance

2.1

The elderly person has the right to participate in the definition of care paths, types of treatment and to choose the methods of providing health and social care.

2.2

Health and social care institutions and workers have the duty to present to the elderly person all the options available for the provision of health and social care.

Examples and considerations

The exercise of this right is not facilitated by the different, not always adequate, choices made regarding health and social care. For example, if the patient chooses to remain at home instead of resorting to hospitalization in social and healthcare facilities, all healthcare costs must be borne by the patient or his/her family due to the insufficient offer of home healthcare and integrated care services. An economic commitment by public institutions aimed at ensuring freedom and equality of choice between the different forms of health and socio-health care appears desirable if not necessary. The choice of the care environment must be made in accordance with the wishes of the elderly person receiving care, and in harmony with their needs and financial resources. Cases of abuse are not rare, such as the practice of transferring elderly people in need of rehabilitation care to post-acute and long-term care departments, a transfer often carried out without the consent of the interested party.

2.3

The elderly person must be guaranteed the right to informed consent in relation to health treatments as required by current legislation.

2.4

It is the duty of doctors and healthcare professionals to provide the elderly person with all the necessary information and professional skills in relation to their physical and cognitive conditions.

2.5

Institutions have the duty to adopt adequate and effective measures to prevent abuse.

Examples and considerations

There are frequent cases in which the consent of the support administrator is improperly requested for the provision of health treatment even where the elderly person is capable of expressing it, as well as cases in which information on the state of health is provided only to relatives and not to the elderly people concerned or to other subjects indicated by them.

2.6

The elderly person has the right to high quality care and treatments suited to his or her personal needs and desires.

2.7

The elderly person has the right to appropriate and effective access to any healthcare service deemed necessary in relation to his or her state of health.

2.8

The elderly person has the right to be looked after and cared for in the environment that best guarantees the recovery of the damaged function.

2.9

It is the duty of institutions to combat any form of age-selective healthcare and assistance.

Examples and considerations

Assistance and care for elderly people should be guaranteed at home as far as possible, as this is the environment that best stimulates the recovery or maintenance of the damaged function, providing every health and social benefit deemed practicable and appropriate. The hospitalization of the elderly person in a hospital or rehabilitation facility should take place for the entire period strictly necessary for care and rehabilitation, having clear that the return to one's home is a priority objective.

2.10

Health and social care workers have the duty to maintain the independence and autonomy of the elderly person in need of care.

2.11

Health and social care workers have the right to obtain professional training suited to the needs of older people.

Examples and considerations

Some healthcare practices, such as, for example, lifting patients out of bed only when service personnel are available, promoting bed rest to avoid falls, and even adopting forms of restraint, effectively limit and do not promote autonomy. of elderly people. These are behaviors that are often justified by citing work organization reasons that end up prevailing over respect for the person.