What professional values and ethics may have been in conflict in this situation?

Question

Emelia coordinated a Meals on Wheels Program for the elderly, and supervised 10 volunteers who delivered the meals. One day, when Emelia filled in for a volunteer and delivered a meal to the Snyders, she found Mr. Snyder very agitated and worried because Mrs. Snyder was missing. Apparently she had wandered off before. Because it was cold outside and they lived two blocks from a busy street, Emelia was alarmed and struggled with how to respond to this unexpected situation. As she tried to prioritize her responsibilities, she began to wonder if her volunteers were communicating with her and if they were well-trained for their responsibilities.

Answer 1

Both Jim and Zelda Snyder wanted to live independently in their home. The Meals on Wheels Program supported their autonomy and self-direction. However, life and safety might have been at risk if Mrs. Snyder was wandering off, especially in cold weather and near a road with heavy traffic. Mr. Snyderís health status was also at risk because of his diabetes and extreme agitation. In order to protect their lives and safety, Emelia may have needed to take steps that could lessen their freedom and independence. If Zeldaís wandering away put her at risk, and if she was not willing to accept treatment, it would have been necessary to report her to Adult Protective Services as a possible risk to herself.
The social worker had the responsibility to advocate for the clientís autonomy and self-determination. However, the social worker must also intervene to protect the life and safety of clients when they are unable to protect themselves or are a danger to themselves. This could involve restricting the freedom of clients and referring them for protective services investigation. Social workers must be able to act decisively and assertively in these situations to keep clients safe at the same time that they are doing all they can to maximize client self-determination.