GC: n
S: NIH – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspolicylabanimals.pdf (last access: 4 September 2014); UNL – http://research.unl.edu/researchresponsibility/public-health-service-policy-on-human-care-and-use-of-laboratory-animals/ (last access: 4 September 2014).
N: 1. – humane (adj.): mid-15c., variant of human (compare german/germane, urban/urbane), used interchangeably with it until early 18c., by which time it had become a distinct word with sense of “having qualities befitting human beings.” But inhuman still can be the opposite of humane. The Royal Humane Society (founded 1774) was originally to rescue drowning persons. Such societies had turned to animal care by late 19c.
– care (n): Old English caru, cearu “sorrow, anxiety, grief,” also “burdens of mind; serious mental attention,” in late Old English also “concern, anxiety caused by apprehension of evil or the weight of many burdens,” from Proto-Germanic *karō “lament; grief, care” (source also of Old Saxon kara “sorrow;” Old High German chara “wail, lament;” Gothic kara “sorrow, trouble, care;” German Karfreitag “Good Friday;” see care (v.)).
The meaning “charge, oversight, attention or heed with a view to safety or protection” is attested from c. 1400; this is the sense in care of in addressing (1840). The meaning “object or matter of concern” is from 1580s. To take care of “take in hand, do” is from 1580s; take care “be careful” also is from 1580s.
2. Humane care: seeing the person behind the patient–a case study.
This article is about the importance of retaining a focus on the humanity of older adults while rendering care to them through community and long-term care services. It is written from my experience as a director of a community service (Adult Day Health Care [ADHC] program), a program officer at a foundation devoted to improving health care for older Americans, a researcher who spent years conducting interviews with staff workers in long-term care services, and from the perspective of a professional and personal caregiver and friend to many elders living in the community–in their own homes and in nursing homes. From these diverse professional and personal roles and perspectives, I have learned that the formation of authentic human relationships, which go beyond the routine medical nursing, and social work approach to care, can play a vital role in healing and addressing loneliness in elders-and transform the lives of their personal and professional caregivers as well. A focus on humanity need not cost money or place a heavy demand on the worker. In fact, it can be one of the most cost-effective approaches to improving quality in health care, attracting workers to the field of long-term care, and boosting the morale of both caregivers and care recipients.
S: 1. OED – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=humane+care (last access: 3 May 2024). 2. NCBI – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21413536/ (last access: 3 May 2024).
SYN: humanising care
S: BournUniv – https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/humanising-care-health-wellbeing (last access: 3 May 2024)
ANT: inhumane care
S: NAVARRO p. 471
CR: humanitarian assistance, humanised, humanitarian, humanization.
