SWTP620 - Ethical Theories & Decision Making in Dementia Social Work

This essay critically analyzes ethical theories and their role in ethical decision-making within social work, focusing on elderly clients diagnosed with dementia. It explores the definition and nature of dementia, its impact on individuals and families, and the ethical questions it raises. The essay examines how ethical theories like deontology and utilitarianism can guide social workers in navigating ethical dilemmas related to dementia care, such as balancing safety with freedom and determining the best interests of the patient. It also reviews literature on supportive care, communication strategies, and the importance of timely diagnosis. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in social work practice and recommending the use of ethical decision-making tools to ensure quality services for dementia patients. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: SOCIAL WORK
Social Work
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
The essay helps in critically analysing different kind of ethical theories in the social
work. The proper role of the ethical theories is essential as this will help in ethical decision
making in the social work. The social work client that has been selected is Elderly citizens
who have been diagnosed with dementia wherein it is one such social work that will help in
analysing a different kind of issues and solving them in an effective manner.
The main aim and purpose of the essay are to identify the different reasons for the
cause of dementia among the elderly individuals with the help and implementation of the
different kind of ethical theories as this will help the company in managing the issue and
solving them in an effectual manner as well. The proper literature review has to be conducted
on the ethical theories and decision-making approaches of the ethical decision making as this
helps in managing the same with different strategies.
The structure of the essay will include a different kind of critical analysis of the
ethical theories that are included in the social work. Proper analysis of the role of the ethical
theories in the ethical kind of decision-making has to be analysed effectually. The literature
review has to be analysed in an effectual manner wherein this will help in understanding and
be addressing a different kind of challenges in an effectual and appropriate manner.
Definition and Nature of Dementia
Dementia is defined as the collection of different kind of signs and symptoms that
includes memory along with communication problems. There is a different kind of changes in
the behaviour of the individuals who are suffering from dementia and this will include the
gradual kind of loss of the physical functions that is the proper indication of the damage of
the brain activities as well (Baldwin, 2016).

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There are more than 700,000 individuals in the United Kingdom who are currently
suffering from dementia and this will be increased to more than 1.7 million till the year 2051.
Dementia has given rise to the different kind of ethical questions that affects the individuals
who are directly involved that is the individuals who are suffering from dementia along with
the family members of the different patients as well.
Even with the best kind of support, the individual who is suffering from dementia will
experience a different kind of profound effects of the same disease in the life. The effect of
dementia will affect the mood and behavior of the individuals in an ineffective manner. The
different kind of potential for serious and frequent conflict of interests between the
individuals who are being cared along with the carer generates and face a different kind of
ethical difficulties.
This raises the further kind of different ethical questions wherein this will help in the
analysis of the society supports individuals with dementia and this prioritizes the different
forms of the research into dementia.
Guidance of ethical theories on ethical decision-making
There is a different kind of ethical theories that are responsible for the social work in
solving the different kind of ethical dilemmas along with problem-laden situations in social
work and the reasons have to be analysed wherein the ethics have to be applied to social
work. It is argued that the social worker is strictly a technical kind of profession and the
different practitioners apply such methods of the intervention through proper training.
The ethical considerations are substantially involved in the social work for treatment
of the dementia patients that has been detected in the elderly individuals. However, the point
of the view is that the ethical kind of considerations are substantially included in a different
kind of social work and it has been seen that without any kind of ethical considerations and

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presumptions, the social worker cannot be conducted in the first place and the three kinds of
ethical dimensions have to be analysed effectually as well (Lee & Hudson, 2017).
Components of ethical decision-making
There are different kinds of ethical decision-making that helps in resolving a different
kind of ethical dilemmas of the dementia patients. As the profession of the social worker, it is
essential in nature to embrace the opportunity to step back and this will reflect on the
different kind of ethical dilemmas from different kind of points that is vintage in nature.
Rubin & Babbie, (2015) has helped in developing the model that helps in outlining the ethical
decision-making components that the social workers will find it helpful as the reflective kind
of framework.
Ethical theories in ethical decision making
There is a different kind of ethical theories that are helpful in the ethical decision
making in the contemporary social work practice. In order to prevent the dementia issues
among the individuals in the society, there is a different kind of theories that includes
deontology and Utilitarianism that is helpful in analysing the decision-making approach that
is ethical in nature.
Deontology ethical theory helps in stating that the individuals have to adhere to the
different obligations along with duties when they are engaged in decision making when the
ethics are in play. This respective theory helps in allowing the different individuals in
following a different kind of obligations to another society or individual and they perform a
different kind of activities that are ethical in nature as well (Murphy et al., 2015).
Deontology contain a different kind of positive attributes and there are different flaws
and one such flaw is relating to the deciding the different duties of the individuals. The

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deontological ethical theory helps in providing ethically correct solutions in an effectual
manner and this brings the welfare of the individuals (Greene, 2017).
Furthermore, the Utilitarianism theory helps in analysis of the ability of the different
individuals and it is based on the ability of the individuals to predict a different kind of
consequences of the action. To the Utilitarian, the choice is one of the greatest yields and the
greatest benefits of the individuals in an effectual manner as well. The other assumption is
that the utilitarian decision maker makes different concerns wherein it provides different
kinds of consequences against one another in an ineffective manner as well (Miley, O'Melia
& DuBois, 2016).
Ethical Framework
There are different individuals who are providing care and support to the individuals
with the dementia problem face a different kind of ethical issues in a daily manner. For
example: When balancing the safety with the freedom along with deciding a different kind of
best interests for the person who is facing dementia along with recognizing the different
demands of the patients as well (Osman, Tischler & Schneider, 2016).
With different kind of legal frameworks, the Utilitarianism theory will help in
understanding and guide the decision-making and practices that are the helpful guidelines
(Jung, 2015). Proper interpretation is required to be applied in specific kind of situations and
this cannot provide precise kind of answers to the ethical problems (Payne, 2015).
However, these guidelines and frameworks are not enough in nature to provide support for
the carers and the professionals as well. The education along with the support in the ethical
decision-making process is done with the help of the different kind of courses along with
support from the peers as well (Hepworth et al., 2016).
Literature Review

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According to Dewing & Dijk, (2016), there is a different kind of ethical approaches
that can help in curing the issues of dementia among the different kind of individuals in the
society. The concept of the supportive care is essential in nature in dementia as this helps in
emphasizing in supporting the person who has been diagnosed with dementia along with the
different family members of the dementia patients. Turner, (2017) commented that in terms
of the different kind of ethical values that includes supportive care recognizes value of the
person with the dementia issue and it is concerned in promoting the wellbeing along with
autonomy of the individuals as well.
With the different kind of ethical tools, it is essential in nature that the social workers
utilize the social kind of judgment along with consultation with the colleagues or the
supervisor as required. Social work is one of the multifaceted profession and the social
workers are required to be properly educated to exercise the judgment that is complex in
nature.
Deontology along with Utilitarian theory will help the patients with dementia to
handle the different situations in an ethical manner. Proper kind of support is essential in
nature as this will cure the dementia issues among the individuals. The family members have
to provide enormous support to the patients as this will support and care them effectually.
The appropriate method of attitude is essential in nature of the professionals along with the
care workers towards their families and this helps in reflecting the solidarity shown within the
family.
According to Padgett, (2016), it has been seen that there are different ethical
approaches to a care pathway for the individuals who are suffering from dementia. Proper
communication and timing of the diagnosis are essential in nature as this will help in
providing the huge number of benefits, however on the other hand Prince et al., (2016)

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commented that there are individuals who do not receive such kind of advantage in the early
diagnosis. Proper emphasis has to be provided wherein the timely diagnosis is essential in
nature as this will reduce the different issues that cause dementia and affects their lives as
well (Howe, 2017).
Ethical Considerations
Ethical decision-making is essential in nature and it is one of the most important key
components in the practice of the entire social work. On a daily basis, the different social
workers in all the areas of the practice will be working effectually to resolve the ethical issues
in an effectual manner. These kinds of dilemmas pertain the following:
Self-Disclosure is the dilemma wherein the different social workers should not
disclose a different kind of information about themselves to the clients. The self-disclosure is
unavoidable in nature and proper measures are required to handle such issues effectually as
well.
Confidentiality and privacy is the dilemma wherein it is seen that how the different
social workers respond to the different clients send some emails with the personal kind of
information. Is it ethically appropriate in nature for the social workers to post a different kind
of client information on the social platforms that is non-identifying in nature as well?
Conclusion and Recommendations
Therefore, it can be concluded that social work is one of the professions that is
committed in nature in improving the social-being and health of the individuals as well. It
includes a different kind of social well-being of the individuals and communities who are
suffering from different kind of issues that includes dementia.

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Competent, accountable, professional and ethical are a different kind of social works
wherein they are employed in the diverse areas of the practice to ensure that the clients will
receive the highest kind of quality services.
Furthermore, it is seen that the theories have presented a different kind of specific
guidelines along with other processes that help in providing specific solutions to the ethical
issues in an effectual manner. Proper guidelines have to be implanted as this will help in
reducing the ethical issues of dementia patients in the entire society in an ethical manner as
well.
Therefore, it can be recommended that proper care is essential in nature for the
elderly individuals who are suffering from dementia with the implementation of the ethical
decision-making tool as this helps in providing professional judgment in an effectual manner.
furthermore, the different ethical principles help in involving the ranking of the different kind
of ethical principles as this will help in reducing the dementia issues among the individuals in
the entire economy effectually.
Lastly, the different kind of ethical considerations has to be adopted by the social
workers as this will help dementia affected patients in solving the issues in an appropriate
manner. The ethical considerations have to be adopted by the social workers wherein this will
help in maintaining the different kind of self-disclosure along with maintaining the privacy
and confidentiality.

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References
Baldwin, M. (2016). Social work, critical reflection and the learning organization.
Routledge.
Dewing, J., & Dijk, S. (2016). What is the current state of care for older people with
dementia in general hospitals? A literature review. Dementia, 15(1), 106-124.
Greene, R. (2017). Human behavior theory and social work practice. Routledge.
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K.
(2016). Empowerment series: Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Nelson
Education.
Howe, D. (2017). An introduction to social work theory. Routledge.
Jung, C. G. (2015). Psychology of dementia praecox. Princeton University Press.
Lee, J. A., & Hudson, R. E. (2017). Empowerment Approach to Social Work
Treatment. Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches, 142.
Miley, K. K., O'Melia, M. W., & DuBois, B. L. (2016). Generalist social work practice: An
empowering approach. Pearson.
Murphy, K., Jordan, F., Hunter, A., Cooney, A., & Casey, D. (2015). Articulating the
strategies for maximising the inclusion of people with dementia in qualitative research
studies. Dementia, 14(6), 800-824.
Osman, S. E., Tischler, V., & Schneider, J. (2016). ‘Singing for the Brain’: A qualitative
study exploring the health and well-being benefits of singing for people with dementia
and their carers. Dementia, 15(6), 1326-1339.

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Padgett, D. K. (2016). Qualitative methods in social work research (Vol. 36). Sage
Publications.
Payne, M. (2015). Modern social work theory. Oxford University Press.
Prince, M. J. (2015). World Alzheimer Report 2015: the global impact of dementia: an
analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends. Alzheimer's Disease International.
Prince, M., Comas-Herrera, A., Knapp, M., Guerchet, M., & Karagiannidou, M. (2016).
World Alzheimer report 2016: improving healthcare for people living with dementia:
coverage, quality and costs now and in the future.
Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2015). Empowerment series: Essential research methods for
social work. Nelson Education.
Turner, F. J. (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches. Oxford
University Press.

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Appendices
Appendix 1
Figure 1: Components of ethical decision-making
Appendix 2
Figure 2: Ethical Principles