Ethical Issues In Home Care

As a nursing student, I obtained a job as a home health aide (HHA) with a reputable home care company; they were known nationwide as leaders in home care. So, I was taken by surprise by the living condition and arrangements of one client’s home. The deplorable living condition and safe environment was not my greatest disappointment; the calamity was that the professional home care staff allowed her to remain in her home and they did not apply due diligence concerning this environmental injustice.
I cared for a cognitively intact elderly woman (Ms. A) that was bedridden in her home. She lives in a poverty stricken and crime infested area of Philadelphia alone. Ms. A had no family involved in her care and she was totally dependent for all of her activities of daily living (ADL’s). The was a neighbor that handled her finances and shopping needs. However, the involvement of this individual was questionable because Ms. A lacked proper heating in her home, food was very scarce, she had large bedsores and was usually soiled when I arrived, the door was left unlocked twenty-four hours a day and the neighbor was never available. I did not

363). While I am reflecting on this situation, my best judgement would have been to have her placed in a long-term care facility. However, if the client insisted on remaining in her home, at a minimum PCA would have been alerted and an I would have requested an evaluation from a social worker from the home health care agency. There were resources available to assist with the restoration of her heating system, providing meal to Ms. A and provide additional