There are certain things you must consider when taking care of another person, no matter how capable or helpless they are. You can't simply look at them as a bump on a log, or as a random citizen you have no investment in. Everyone has the same emotional concerns regardless of their current state of being. Below are some of the universal truths that operate at each individual's core. And they must always be taken into consideration.
SELF WORTH. Individuals must feel that they are of value, that they are appreciated by family, friends and the community.
ACCEPTANCE. Individuals long to be treated with respect and dignity. They want to be accepted by others and acknowledged for who they are.
SELF DETERMINATION. Individuals need to have a sense of personal control, that they have a say in what happens to them in their daily lives.
POWER. People need to know that they have the capability to make things happen, either by themselves or through the help of others.
PURPOSE. People need to have a reason to live. They need to be occupied by a activity they they find satisfying and inspiring.
BELONGING. Individuals need to be part of a group, and be connected to others who love, understand and support them. People are social animals and need to interact. They need to belong.
IDENTITY. People need to have a sense of being unique and personally well defined. They need to be able to tell others who they are, what they believe, and what they stand for.
SELF-EXPRESSION. Individuals need to express their inner ideas and feelings to the world, which serves as a form of emotional release, a source of joy, and a confirmation of their abilities.
SECURITY. People need to have a sense that their world is safe, secure, predictable, and stable.
HOPE. Individuals do better when they feel free from worry, when they have been assured they are going to be adequately provided for.
STIMULATION. People need to have their minds and bodies exercised. They need to be exposed to motion, energy, and ideas.
PRIVACY. Individuals require some degree of alone time to rest, recharge and gather their thoughts. They do not like continuous company or surveillance.
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