Published by: Anita Courtney, Felicity Iredale, and Johanna Heaven
As aged care providers continue to grapple with balancing their duty of care and their obligation to respect their clients’ dignity of risk, some are asking clients to sign an acknowledgment which includes waivers/releases and indemnities as a way of mitigating the risks.
These acknowledgment forms can be used in a range of scenarios where the client wishes to engage in an activity that creates a risk to themselves or others. For example:
• A resident’s family wants the resident to use an electrical scooter despite the resident having difficulty controlling it
• A guardian wants the resident to be given food that presents a risk of choking
• A home care client wishes to engage a worker/service provider that is not part of their preferred supplier list.
A risk acknowledgment/waiver form can form a part of your dignity of risk processes in these sorts of situations. However it is important to understand the associated benefits and limitations.
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