Example: promote empowerment

Shirley recently moved into an aged care home after her husband, to whom she was married for 65 years, passed away. She misses her husband for a number of reasons and in particular because he used to handle all the money matters and always paid the bills. Shirley becomes distressed because she has received a phone bill and has never had to pay one before.

Jason is a personal care worker at the aged care home and knows he could just as easily take the bill and money over the road to the local post office and pay the bill for Shirley, but realises this is not a very empowering solution. In fact, this action could set up a dependency in that he or his colleagues pay all future bills for Shirley.

Jason organises with the lifestyle team for a volunteer to escort Shirley across the road and support her through the process of paying her own phone bill. While they are out, Shirley and the volunteer have a coffee at a café. Shirley remarks, with a smile, that this is the first time she has paid a bill and it will certainly not be the last! The volunteer notes Shirley’s increased confidence at being able to manage her own bills.