Care practice guide · Dignity and respect
Dignity in care: 30 ways to promote dignity in care
Dignity in care means treating every person as an individual of worth, with respect for their privacy, choices, identity and independence. Here are 30 practical examples of dignity in care, grouped by area, that you can use in training, supervision and everyday practice.
What is dignity in care?
Dignity in care is not a single policy or a training module. It shows up in small moments: how you knock on a door, how you ask a question, how you help someone dress.
Dignity and respect is also one of the CQC’s fundamental standards for care providers in England, and it sits at the heart of the “Caring” key question.
The best reason to get it right is simpler: people who are treated with dignity feel safer, more in control and more themselves.
The 8 key factors of dignity in care
The Dignity in Care campaign and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) describe eight factors that together shape whether a person feels treated with dignity.
Choice and control
Supporting people to make decisions about their own care, daily life and how they spend their time.
Communication
Speaking and listening with respect, in a way that suits each person, and giving them time to be heard.
Eating and nutritional care
Offering choice, the right support and a pleasant, unhurried mealtime experience.
Pain management
Asking about pain, believing people, and acting quickly to keep them comfortable.
Personal hygiene
Supporting washing, dressing, continence and appearance in the way the person prefers, with privacy.
Practical assistance
Helping with everyday tasks so people can stay independent and live the life they choose.
Privacy
Protecting personal space, modesty, belongings and confidential information.
Social inclusion
Helping people stay connected to family, friends, community and the activities they enjoy.
How do you show dignity in care?
You show dignity in care by seeing the person first, not the task. In practice, that means:
- Asking, explaining and getting consent before you help.
- Protecting privacy during personal care.
- Using the person’s preferred name and a respectful tone.
- Offering real choices and supporting independence.
- Listening, believing and acting on what people tell you.
- Respecting culture, beliefs and identity.
The 30 examples below show what this looks like in everyday care.
Core principles of dignity in care
Respect
Value each person and treat them as you would want to be treated.
Privacy
Protect personal space, modesty and information.
Choice and autonomy
Support people to make their own decisions.
Independence
Enable people to do as much as they can for themselves.
Person-centred care
Plan care around the person’s needs, history, wishes and preferences.
Equality and inclusion
Treat people fairly and challenge discrimination.
Compassion
Show warmth, kindness and patience, especially at difficult times.
Confidentiality
Share personal information only with those who need it.
30 examples of dignity in care
Use these examples as a team self-check. Tick each one your service does every day to see where practice is strong and where to focus next. Your ticks are saved on this device only.
0 of 30 in place
Personal care and privacy
Examples 1 to 5Knocking and waiting before entering
Treat a person’s bedroom, bathroom or flat as their private space, and wait for a reply wherever possible.
Closing doors and curtains during personal care
Make sure nobody can see in, and keep the door closed even if you only expect to be a moment.
Covering the person during washing and dressing
Use towels or a dressing gown so only the part of the body being washed is uncovered.
Explaining what you are about to do
Say “I am going to help you with your shirt now” before you begin, so nothing comes as a surprise.
Offering the choice of a male or female carer for intimate care
Ask about preference and record it in the care plan, then do your best to honour it.
Communication and respect
Examples 6 to 10Asking how the person likes to be addressed
Use their preferred name, not “love”, “dear” or “bed 4”.
Speaking to the person, not about them
Include them in the conversation, even if they have dementia or a communication difficulty.
Getting down to eye level
Sit or crouch so you are not looming over someone in a bed or chair.
Giving people time to answer
Slow down, pause and do not finish their sentences for them.
Using the person’s preferred way to communicate
That might be a hearing aid, large print, pictures, an interpreter, sign language or a communication passport.
Choice, control and independence
Examples 11 to 15Offering choices throughout the day
Let people decide what to wear, when to get up, where to sit and how to spend their time.
Encouraging people to do what they can for themselves
Support, don’t take over: let someone wash their own face or fasten their own buttons.
Involving the person in their care plan
Ask what matters to them, and record their wishes in their own words.
Respecting a decision you disagree with
People have the right to make choices that others see as unwise, as long as they have capacity. Where capacity is in doubt, follow the Mental Capacity Act and record best-interest decisions properly.
Asking for consent every time
Do not assume that agreement yesterday means agreement today.
Food, drink and daily routines
Examples 16 to 20Making mealtimes unhurried and sociable
Give people time to eat, and sit down to help rather than standing over them.
Offering a choice of meals and drinks
Show the options, including pictures if helpful, and respect cultural, religious and personal preferences.
Providing suitable cutlery, cups and plates
Adapted equipment helps people eat independently and avoids unnecessary help.
Protecting clothing discreetly
Offer a napkin or a cloth, not a bib, unless the person prefers one.
Keeping to the person’s own routines
If someone has always had a late breakfast or an evening bath, fit your care around that, not the other way round.
Environment, belongings and community
Examples 21 to 25Supporting people to personalise their rooms
Photos, furniture and favourite objects make a bedroom feel like home.
Treating belongings with care
Ask before moving or tidying someone’s things, and keep clothing clean, labelled and returned to the right person.
Helping people look the way they want to
Support hair, make-up, shaving, jewellery and clothing choices that reflect their identity.
Protecting confidential information
Do not discuss someone’s health or personal details in corridors, communal areas or on the phone where others can hear.
Supporting contact with family, friends and the community
Welcome visitors, help people keep in touch by phone or video, and support outings and activities they enjoy.
Culture, emotional support and end of life
Examples 26 to 30Respecting religion, culture and beliefs
Support prayer, faith practices, festivals, dietary needs and modesty requirements.
Recognising and respecting identity
Treat people fairly whatever their age, disability, gender, sexuality, race or background, and challenge discrimination when you see it.
Listening and taking concerns seriously
When someone says they are in pain, frightened or unhappy, believe them and act, then follow up.
Responding kindly to distress
Stay calm, offer comfort, and never tell off, laugh at or talk down to someone who is upset or confused.
Providing compassionate end-of-life care
Ask about wishes, keep the person comfortable and clean, protect privacy, and support family and friends to be with them.
The 10 Dignity Do’s
The National Dignity Council’s 10 Dignity Do’s set out what high-quality, dignified care looks like. Many services use them in induction and team meetings.
- 1Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse.
- 2Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family.
- 3Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service.
- 4Enable people to keep the most independence, choice and control possible.
- 5Listen to people and support them to express their needs and wants.
- 6Respect people’s right to privacy.
- 7Make sure people feel able to complain without fear of what will happen.
- 8Work with family members and carers as care partners.
- 9Help people keep their confidence and positive self-esteem.
- 10Act to reduce people’s loneliness and isolation.
Free download
Dignity in care practice checklist
A printable checklist to use in supervision, spot checks and team training.
Legal framework for dignity in care in the UK
Dignity in care is a legal requirement, not just good practice. In England, these laws and regulations apply:
| Law or regulation | What it means for dignity |
|---|---|
| Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 | Regulation 10, Dignity and respect, requires providers to treat people with dignity and respect, including privacy, autonomy, independence and involvement in the community. The CQC can take action if this standard is not met. |
| Human Rights Act 1998 | Protects rights including freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3) and respect for private and family life (Article 8). |
| Equality Act 2010 | Protects people from discrimination because of protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation. |
| Care Act 2014 | Puts a duty on local authorities to promote individual wellbeing, which includes personal dignity and treating people with respect. |
| Mental Capacity Act 2005 | Requires staff to assume capacity, support people to make their own decisions, and act in their best interests when they lack capacity. |
| UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 | Requires personal and health information to be kept secure and shared only when needed. |
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own care standards and regulators, but the same principles of dignity and respect apply.
How care teams can promote dignity every day
Dignity is easier to protect when it is part of how your service runs, not just something individual staff remember on a good day.
- 1Make it part of induction and trainingCover dignity, privacy, communication, consent and equality, and refresh them regularly.
- 2Build it into care plansRecord how each person likes to be addressed, supported and cared for.
- 3Observe practice and give feedbackSpot checks and supervision help you notice small habits, good and bad.
- 4Listen to people and familiesUse feedback, resident meetings and complaints to learn what dignity means to the people you support.
- 5Lead by exampleManagers and senior staff set the tone for how everyone speaks and behaves.
- 6Speak upMake it normal for staff to raise concerns about undignified care and act on them quickly.
Dignity in care FAQs
What is dignity in care?
Dignity in care means treating each person as an individual, with respect for their privacy, choices, identity and independence, whatever their age, health or ability.
What are examples of dignity in care?
Examples include knocking before entering a room, closing doors and curtains during personal care, offering choices, using a person’s preferred name, protecting confidential information and respecting religious and cultural beliefs.
Why is dignity important in care?
People treated with dignity feel safer, more in control and more valued. It supports wellbeing and trust, and it is a legal and regulatory expectation for care providers.
How do you maintain dignity in a care home?
Protect privacy during personal care, offer choice, support independence, communicate respectfully, protect personal information, and involve people and their families in decisions about their care.
What is the difference between dignity and respect in care?
Respect is how you treat someone, through your words and actions. Dignity is the person’s sense of worth and value. Respectful care protects and strengthens a person’s dignity.
What are the 8 factors of dignity in care?
The 8 factors are choice and control, communication, eating and nutritional care, pain management, personal hygiene, practical assistance, privacy and social inclusion.
Is there a free dignity in care checklist?
Yes. You can download our free dignity in care practice checklist (PDF) to use in supervision and training.
Is dignity part of CQC inspections?
Yes. Dignity and respect is one of the CQC’s fundamental standards, and inspectors look at it through observation, feedback from people who use the service, and the culture of the service.