When 89-year-old Daniel steps into the sunlit courtyard of his aged care home, he isn’t simply heading outside; he is returning to a part of himself. His wife, Rosa, follows carefully beside him, her movements slowed by Parkinson’s disease, yet her focus sharp and determined. For more than sixty years, gardening has been the ritual that grounded their relationship. It was their morning meditation, and the way they quietly marked the passing seasons.
Now, surrounded by raised garden beds instead of the backyard they tended for decades, Daniel and Rosa are determined not to let age or circumstance take this part of their lives away. Their desire to continue gardening within residential care reveals something profound about ageing: older adults want to keep living, not simply be kept safe. And it is here that the concept of dignity of risk becomes not only relevant, but essential.
Dignity of risk is the principle that every person, regardless of age or physical limitation, has the right to make choices about their own life, even when those choices involve a degree of risk (Courtney et al, 2022). It recognises that risk-taking is part of what it means to be human. These choices also shape identity, purpose, and quality of life. In Australia, the Commonwealth Charter of Aged Care Rights (1997) and the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (2024) both affirm that older adults should maintain control over their lives, and that their independence and personal preferences deserve protection, not restriction.
For aged care workers and families, however, this principle can feel confronting. The instinct to protect is strong, and it is easy to fall into patterns that prioritise safety above all else (Woolford et al, 2020). When Daniel and Rosa first expressed a desire to resume gardening, the staff immediately focused on the hazards. Rosa, with her tremors and balance difficulties, was at increased risk of falling. Daniel, who sometimes experienced dizziness, could easily overexert himself. A simpler, more traditional response might have been to decline their request “for their own good.”
However, the team opted for a different approach. Instead of asking, “What might go wrong?”, they asked, “How can we support them to do this safely?” This shift in perspective made all the difference. For Daniel and Rosa, gardening was far more than a pleasant pastime; it was a link to their shared history and a way of maintaining a sense of identity in unfamiliar surroundings. Denying them this opportunity would have protected their bodies at the expense of their spirits.
The impact of respecting the dignity of risk extends far beyond individual activities. Research consistently demonstrates that older adults who retain control over their decisions experience higher levels of wellbeing, stronger cognitive and emotional health, and a deeper sense of purpose. Conversely, when decision-making is removed under the guise of protection, people often experience a decline in confidence, independence, and overall engagement with life (Foundas, 2025; Rony et al, 2024; Woolford et al, 2020). For residents like Daniel and Rosa, being trusted to make meaningful choices reinforces their status as individuals with agency, rather than patients to be managed.
Implementing dignity of risk within aged care requires careful, thoughtful practice. It involves open conversations about goals and preferences, respectful assessments of the risks involved, and collaborative planning that balances safety with autonomy (Australian Government, 2024). When staff began discussing gardening with Daniel and Rosa, they considered everything from environmental hazards to fatigue levels. They explored ways to adjust the gardening space, offered adaptive tools, and ensured that seating and shade were available. Importantly, they documented Daniel and Rosa’s wishes and perspectives in their care plans, allowing all team members to understand the couple’s priorities and the rationale behind supporting their choice.
This approach is not only person-centred but also aligned with legal, ethical, and professional expectations. National nursing standards emphasise autonomy, informed decision-making, and respect for the rights of individuals receiving care (NMBA, 2016; ICN, 2021). The law recognises that older adults should continue to exercise control over their lives whenever possible, even when their decisions diverge from what others might choose for them (Australian Government, 1997).
Of course, dignity of risk is not simply a clinical obligation; it is also a cultural one. It demands a shift in mindset, where aged care workers feel empowered to support meaningful risk rather than defaulting to unnecessary restriction. Staff training is essential in cultivating this confidence. Workers must learn to engage in conversations that honour resident preferences, to challenge assumptions about aging and vulnerability, and to navigate the sometimes uncomfortable space between protection and autonomy. Families, too, need support in understanding that allowing a loved one to take a considered risk does not represent neglect. Instead, it acknowledges the person’s ongoing right to direct their own life (Foundas, 2025; Rony et al, 2024; Woolford et al, 2020).
Months after they resumed gardening, Daniel and Rosa had transformed the once-neglected courtyard into a vibrant herb and flower garden. One afternoon, a staff member passing by overheard them debating, playfully, about the best way to prune the basil. Daniel, chuckling, insisted that Rosa had always been too heavy-handed with the secateurs. She nudged him gently and reminded him that her basil had always tasted better. It was a moment that perfectly captured the essence of dignity of risk: two people continuing to experience joy, identity, and connection, despite the challenges of ageing.
Their story reminds us that ageing does not erase a person’s humanity or their right to live a life rich with meaning. In fact, honouring dignity of risk enriches both residents and the care environments supporting them. It reinforces that older adults are not fragile objects to be kept intact, but individuals with histories, passions, and agency.
This article was originally published in the Autumn 2026 edition of ACN’s quarterly member publication The Hive. Members can access all past editions of The Hive on MyACN. Non-members can get a sneak peek by viewing our open-access articles.
Author: Judith Smith MACN
References
Australian Government (2024) Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. Available <https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/for-providers/code-conduct>
Australian Government (1997) Charter of Aged Care Rights. Available <https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/older-australians/your-rights/charter-aged-care-rights>
Courtney, A., Iredale, F., Heaven, J., & Tang, E. (2022, July). Dignity of risk in aged care. Australian Health Law Bulletin, 30(6), 111–113.
Foundas, M. (2025). Dignity of risk in residential aged care: A call to reframe understandings of risk. Medical Journal of Australia. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70002
International Council of Nurses (2021) Code of Ethics for Nurses. Available <https://www.icn.ch/sites/default/files/2023-06/ICN_Code-of-Ethics_EN_Web.pdf
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2016) Standards of Practice: Registered Nurse. Available <https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
Rony, M., Parvin, M., Wahiduzzaman, M., Akter, K., & Ullah, M. (2024). Challenges and advancements in the health-related quality of life of older people. Advances in Public Health, Article 8839631. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8839631
Woolford, M. H., de Lacy-Vawdon, C., Bugeja, L., Weller, C., & Ibrahim, J. E. (2020). Applying dignity of risk principles to improve the quality of life for vulnerable persons. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 35(1), 122–130.
