Application of Maslow’s Humanistic approach to Care Settings
The hierarchy of needs allows service providers to understand what client/children’s needs are. It also encourages service
providers to see clients/children as individuals who are striving to meet these needs. Assessment and planning can help
clients/children meet these needs.
The care values can be related to the triangle:
 Promote equality and diversity – all clients still have to have their needs met despite their age! So if a care
worker is carefully applying this value then this can help the resident to feel appreciated and respected.
 Promoting rights and beliefs - Although staff may have to follow strict routines they should also encourage
residents to make decisions for themselves where possible.
 Confidentiality – This is very important for trust building and so can help meet the sense of belonging and self
esteem needs.
Services will not be appropriate if they do not meet the needs of the individual who uses them, therefore they must be
planned and designed so that they do meet users needs. We all have the same basic needs. Maslow represented these
needs in the form of a pyramid showing which needs must be met first before others could be satisfied. Below is a table
showing each stage of the pyramid and how each stage can be applied to the settings being studied for this exam:
Stages of hierarchy (bottom of
table = bottom of the pyramid)
Self-actualisation
(where an individual meets the
ultimate goal in life; this is
where they are free from
pressures which are attached
Provision for needs to be
met in early years settings
According to Maslow children
cannot self-actualise. This
happens around middle age.
Prior to this all their needs are
still being met. In childhood
Provision for needs to be
met in
Day care settings
Personal support, supervision,
advice, chiropody, aids and
adaptations, meals.
Care workers need to prevent
barriers from occurring so that
residents are able to achieve
self-actualisation –
Care workers need to provide
Provision for needs to be
met in
Residential and nursing
homes
Care workers need to prevent
barriers from occurring so that
residents are able to achieve
self-actualisation –
Care workers need to provide
to previous levels/stages of they will not have developed a
dev and they are now free to full identity/personality.
explore
who
they
have
‘become’ – they are likely to be
more
independent,
feel
emotionally
fulfilled,
have
positive social development as
they will have a greater
acceptance of others and
realistic perception of self)
Self-esteem Needs
(need to be recognised and
acknowledged. Need to feel
respected. This need is met by
success being recognised too.
Self-esteem is part of an
individuals
emotional
development )
(Cognitive needs – we require
stimulation/activities
to
promote
knowledge
and
understanding; success here
will affect an individual’s selfconcept)
(Aesthetic needs – the need to
experience beauty, truth etc –
this will have a direct effect on
EYWs should respect children
so they feel they are being
listened to and valued e.g. set
aside time to listen to their
worries and views. Answer
questions that they pose. Staff
must be trained and aware of
cultural differences so that
they respect these in the
children. Praise is so important
for self-esteem.
Encouragement to complete
tasks so as they can see that
they succeed. Group
recognition of
interests/achievements can be
seen through activities such as
show and tell and circle time.
A good way to relax the
opportunities for service users
so that they can self-actualise.
Self actualisation is something
that occurs when all our other
needs are met. This involved
accomplishing something we’d
never thought we could
achieve due to not having the
physical or emotional space
because of meeting our other
needs. This will be things like
providing services outside of
the centre that will meet their
‘searching needs’ i.e. playing a
musical instrument, learning to
cook Indian food, learning to
jive.
Service users need to feel
respected. They need to be
provided with independence
and treated as an individual.
We need to value people for
who they are e.g. use their
name when addressing them,
respect their cultural beliefs
and needs.
A day care centre provides
advice as a service therefore
listening to service user’s
worries
and
views
is
paramount in meeting this
need.
Encouragement to complete
tasks so as they can see that
they
succeed.
Group
recognition
of
opportunities for service users
so that they can self-actualise.
Self actualisation is something
that occurs when all our other
needs are met. This involves
accomplishing something we’d
never thought we could
achieve due to not having the
physical or emotional space
because of meeting our other
needs. This will be things like
providing services outside of
the home that will meet their
‘searching needs’ i.e. playing a
musical instrument, learning to
cook Indian food, learning to
jive.
Service users need to feel
respected. They need to be
provided with independence
and treated as an individual.
We need to value people for
who they are e.g. use their
name when addressing them,
respect their cultural beliefs
and needs. When people live in
a setting one must actually
provide for cultural needs
rather than just respect it e.g.
a room to pray would be
essential as they live there and
cannot go home to do it.
A residential setting should
provide emotional support for
service
users;
therefore
listening to service user’s
our emotional development)
children and start a circle time
session, is by teaching and
gradually building up to a
simple game. The objective is
to arrive at a situation where
everyone gets the chance to
speak, and to provoke an open
discussion, to give time to
celebrate achievements and
then to provide time to calm
down and bring closure to the
setting.
interests/achievements can be
seen through activities such as
appropriate awards at a
presentation evening i.e. best
chess player of the year. They
could
also
celebrate
achievements
through
exhibition – art and gardening.
It is very important to help
them feel as if they have a
purpose in life i.e. making
necklaces or knitting baby
clothes to sell at the village
fete. Apply the care values
efficiently so that the individual
develops or maintains a
healthy self-esteem. Giving
them options so that they can
choose things for themselves
(promoting individual rights
and beliefs)
worries
and
views
is
paramount in meeting this
need.
Encouragement to complete
tasks so as they can see that
they
succeed.
Group
recognition
of
interests/achievements can be
seen through activities such as
appropriate awards at a
presentation evening i.e. best
chess player of the year. They
could
also
celebrate
achievements
through
exhibition – art and gardening.
It is very important to help
them feel as if they have a
purpose in life i.e. making
necklaces or knitting baby
clothes to sell at the village
fete.
Good
working
relationships need to be
developed
with
service
provider and user a balance of
being friendly and professional
is required to meet the selfesteem needs of somebody
residing in a setting.
Apply
the
care
values
efficiently so that the individual
develops or maintains a
healthy self-esteem. Giving
them options so that they can
choose things for themselves
(promoting individual rights
and beliefs)
Love and Belongingness
(attachment to primary carer,
feeling socially included. There
is a need for love and affection
to be shown towards the
service user. Individual can
then build on both their social
and emotional development)
EYWs should build up a
relationship with children to
prevent children from feeling
isolated and that they belong.
Lots of group activities should
be planned to build group
cohesion. Activities to promote
friendships between children
should also be encouraged e.g.
board games, role-play. Good
working relationships with
parents are also important
between EYW and parent.
Child needs to see this in order
to feel they are loved and
belong at the setting.
Care workers need to provide
safe, supportive relationships
for service users. This is
encouraged through group
activities. Service users are
usually encouraged to be
involved in planning the care
and
development
of
themselves as well as the day
care centre as a whole. Day
care centres need to be
involved
in
the
wider
community
and
market
themselves as a nice place to
be as well as this it is
important for the service users
so as they too can become
part of the wider community
and feel as if they belong in
the
community.
Service
providers need to be in contact
with the family of service users
so as the user feels as if s/he
is loved and valued as they
communicate about him/her.
Older people need to be able
to talk to professional care
workers about their interests
and problems too in order to
feel they ‘belong’ at the day
care centre.
Keeping information on the
service user confidential so
that the individual can build a
trusting relationship with the
Residential care workers need
to provide safe, supportive
relationships for service users.
This is encouraged through
group activities. Service users
are usually encouraged to be
involved in planning the care
and
development
of
themselves as well as the
running
of
the
home.
Residential settings to be
involved
in
the
wider
community
and
market
themselves as a nice place to
live, as well as this it is
important for the service users
so as they too can become
part of the wider community
and feel as if they belong in
the
community.
Service
providers need to be in contact
with the family of service users
so as the user feels as if s/he
is loved and valued as they
communicate about him/her.
Often in a residential setting
residents will have their own
responsibilities that contribute
to the running of the home
e.g. Marj does the tea and
coffees of an evening, Fred
waters the plants and so on.
This helps them to feel as if
they live in the home and
belong to it.
Safety/security Needs
(freedom from threat, danger,
intimidation. To feel safe
physically and emotionally – thi
allows for development of skills
such as independence and
emotional security)
EYWs should keep dangerous
objects e.g. scissors. away
from children. The doors
should be locked at all times
(staff
have
an
access
code/key). Risk assessments
should be carried out on a
daily
basis
to
maintain
standards of the build and
equipment. Emotional safety
should also be maintained e.g.
the key worker system is used
care worker and allow them to
feel that what they tell the
care workers are going to be
kept confidential
Care workers should try to
understand the service user’s
challenging behaviour by
encouraging them to talk
about their needs and worries.
Care workers should recognise
that personal development
comes from the love and
respect from others. So to put
that into practise the care
worker should make sure that
the client is treated in a way
that they would treat someone
they loved or respected
regardless of their behaviour.
Keeping information on the
service user confidential so
that the individual can build a
trusting relationship with the
care worker and allow them to
feel that what they tell the
care workers are going to be
kept confidential
Care workers should try to
understand the service user’s
challenging behaviour by
encouraging them to talk
about their needs and worries.
Care workers should recognise
that personal development
comes from the love and
respect from others. So to put
that into practise the care
worker should make sure that
the client is treated in a way
that they would treat someone
they loved or respected
regardless of their behaviour.
Care workers need to provide
a secure and safe environment
for service users.
Physical security = the building
is safe and risk assessments
are carried out on this by the
staff. A key system so if
necessary strangers cannot get
in or service users wander off.
Able residents will have their
own
access/departure
arrangements i.e. a swipe card
Residential care workers need
to provide a secure and safe
environment for service users.
Physical security = the building
is safe and risk assessments
are carried out by the staff. A
key system is used to prevent
strangers getting in or service
users
wander
off.
Able
residents may have their own
access arrangements i.e. a
swipe card to enter and exit
so as a child can form a special
bond with a carer to enable
them to feel secure. Carers
should maintain a healthy
emotional atmosphere e.g.
bullying must be stopped and
disputes resolved.
Many children are anxious
about making the move from
nursery to primary school.
Circle time, buddies and
mentors are some of the ways
of calming anxieties and
answering questions.
to enter and exit the building.
The resources in the building
need to be up to a required
standard e.g. the hoists are
charged before use, the
wheelchairs have sufficient
breaks. The activities provided
to meet physical needs have to
be safe and risk assessed
before using. Supervision is a
role of a day care centre –
residents will feel safer if you
are supervising them walking
down the corridor to go to
toilet by themselves for
example.
Emotional safety = All staff are
trained and CRB checked –
service users know this and
this contributes to their sense
of safety. There will be equal
ops and bullying policies to
monitor and evaluate any
issues which should arise for
the
service
users
and
providers. As part of their job
role
service
providers
encourage
relationships
between the service users –
this aids in making service
users feel safe once they have
developed bonds with others.
. Counselling can be offered in
a day care setting to reduce
anxiety and help the client to
feel emotionally safe.
the building.
The resources in the building
need to be up to a required
standard e.g. the hoists are
charged before use, the
wheelchairs have sufficient
breaks. The activities provided
to meet physical needs have to
be safe and risk assessed
before using. Supervision is a
role of residential care staff –
residents will feel safer if you
are supervising them walking
down the corridor to go to
toilet by themselves for
example.
Emotional safety = Most staff
are trained and CRB checked –
service users know this and
this contributes to their sense
of safety. There will be equal
ops and bullying policies to
monitor and evaluate any
issues which should arise for
the
service
users
and
providers. As part of their job
role
service
providers
encourage
relationships
between residents – this aids
in making service users feel
safer
once
they
have
developed bonds with others.
Each resident has their own
bedroom where they can feel
safe to have solitary time and
quality sleep (residents who do
Physical Needs
(food, warmth, shelter –
generally understood to be
basic needs which need to be
met before individual can
progress
onto
higher
levels/stages)
EYWs should provide children
with activities so that their
basic needs can be met e.g.
nap time, food, frequent
drinks, play equipment to
enhance physical development.
Hygiene standards to prevent
illness for the children. Advice
would be provided for parents
on
immunisations
and
vaccinations
and
the
appropriate age for each one.
It is the responsibility of the
EYW to suggest a child sees a
doctor if illness is suspected.
Care workers need to provide
basic needs for service users,
such as meals. Day care
centres provide this as part of
their service. They also provide
other
health
care
e.g.
chiropody,
maybe
a
hairdresser, some may provide
baths i.e. some service users
may not bath themselves at
home due to being unable to
get in and out of the bath, so
they will come to a day care
centre for this. Activities to
maintain physical health are
also paramount e.g. armchair
yoga, walking round the
gardens; carers may help with
exercises specific to their
condition i.e. a stroke patient.
Careful assessment and care
planning can help service users
to meet their physical needs.
not get enough sleep are often
tearful and moody).
Counselling can be offered in a
day care setting to reduce
anxiety and help the client to
feel emotionally safe.
In a residential home you need
trusting relationships with the
care workers as you have to
trust them to meet your needs
day and night. This will
contribute to your feelings of
emotional safety.
Residential homes will meet
service users’ basic needs.
Basic needs will include;
meals, clothing and washing
facilities. Residential homes
provide this as part of their
service, but it should be
tailored
to
meet
the
individuals’ needs. They also
provide other health care e.g.
chiropody,
hairdresser.
Activities to maintain physical
health are also paramount e.g.
armchair yoga, walking round
the gardens, carers may help
with exercises specific to their
condition i.e. a stroke patient.
Resources e.g comfortable
beds
and
routines
that
promote quality sleep are
important to services users’
physical wellbeing e.g. Bill
goes to bed at 7 and Ethel at 8
as Bill needs a bit more sleep
than Ethel. Medication routines
need to be followed day and
night by the nursing staff. A
check on personal hygiene
daily
is
paramount.
Opportnities
for
intimate
relationships will be provided
in their own personal living
space. Aids and adaptations in
the home will be provided to
meet a variety of physical
needs.