Download Muslim Home Care Protocol

Madina Village Community Services Ltd
Muslim Home Care Protocol
Rev 0
Muslim Home Care Protocol
Gender
1. As in other religions and faiths, modesty is very important in Islam. Muslim men and
women do not feel comfortable uncovering their bodies to a stranger.
2. Muslims men and women may not wish to have physical contact with, or expose their
bodies to, the opposite gender. This may include shaking hands and unnecessary
physical contact.
3. Muslim men and women may not feel comfortable letting a health care provider from
the opposite gender into their home while alone.
Halal
4. When serving food to a Muslim resident, check food labels to see if Halal certified. Be
careful when serving food and drinks, to ensure they do not contain pork and any pig
meat by-products, or alcohol.
5. Medication should be non-alcohol based, wherever possible.
Prayer
6. Clients may not answer the door during prayer times (which are five times each day). Be
respectful and wait a few minutes. Pro-active coordination by the Client and the Care
Provider may prevent loss of caring time (eg plan visits during the morning, before lunch
time).
7. At time, clients may request assistance with wudhu (ablution).
Cleanliness
8. The Qur’an must always be handled or put away respectfully with clean hands.
9. As Muslims often pray on carpeted areas, health care providers should ask if shoes need
to be removed before entering the house or a specific a carpeted area. As this may not
be possible for Workplace Health and Safety reasons, alternatives should be explored
(e.g. wearing plastic shoe covers, or bringing an alternative pair of shoes that have not
been worn outside, or laying out a plastic mat).
10. Muslim patients will generally want water for hand washing before and after meals.
11. Washing with water is also required after urination or defecation. Toilets should be
equipped with a small water container or jug to assist with washing.
12. A beaker of water should be made available to a bedbound Muslim patient whenever
they use a bed pan. It is of important that patients are given the necessary assistance to
clean themselves (even in a pan). Bed-bound patients may require portable hand
washing facilities.
13. The left hand is considered unclean, so it is preferred that the right hand be used for
feeding or administering medications.
Dress
14. It is advisable for health care providers to be modestly dressed such as long pants/skirt
and shirt.
Doc number 012
1
June 2014
Madina Village Community Services Ltd
Muslim Home Care Protocol
Rev 0
Fasting
15. On individual days or during the month of Ramadan (the month of fasting), a client may
refrain from drinks or food from dawn until dusk, provided the client is medically in a
healthy condition.
Deceased patients
16. The whole body and face of a deceased person should be covered by a clean, white
sheet.
17. If possible, health care providers should, as much as possible, limit handling the body of
a deceased Muslim.
18. If possible, the body should only be handled by a person of the same gender.
Mental health
19. Clients may prefer a holistic approach on their path to recovery, and may wish to
perform certain forms of spiritual treatment complementary to conventional treatment,
such as drinking zam-zam water, and reading the Qur’an.
20. A Muslim mental health client professing belief in Jinn (metaphysical, spiritual beings)
requires careful consideration and assessment.
21. Jinn are recognised in Islam as sentient, metaphysical beings occupying a parallel plane
of existence, concurrent yet separate from Humans and Angels. Consequently, belief in
Jinn does not by itself imply a delusional belief.
22. Games and activities which increase the mental well-being are encouraged.
Various
23. A beard is considered an important religious aspect for some Muslim male patients. Like
any other patient, permission must be obtained to shave any part of the beard, which
should be done by a man.
24. It is considered a family or communal obligation and a religious virtue to care for the
elderly, and the suggestion to leave the family house to a nursing home may appear
inappropriate to some. Health care providers should take this into account when
developing care plans.
- - - APPEAL - - Being a not-for-profit charitable organisation, Madina Village Community Services Ltd depends on
donations to cover its ongoing overhead costs. In case you are willing to support our activities
financially, our bank details are:
Bank
NAB, St Georges Tce, Perth 6000 (Swift code NATAAU3303M)
Account name
Madina Village Community Services Ltd
BSB
086 006
Account number
94 652 0138
Description
‘Donation’
Doc number 012
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June 2014