When an Adult Has Romantic Feelings for a Paid Care Worker
Reviewed by Tyree Powell, Marketing on .
For families in Brigham City
For families in Brigham City, Northern Wasatch: use the resources and practical steps in this guide to plan wanted nonmedical help. Confirm individual requirements and current availability with the responsible provider.
Listen without ridicule when an adult has romantic feelings toward a paid worker. Disability does not make feelings unimportant, but paid support has responsibilities and boundaries distinct from a personal relationship.
Respect feelings while clarifying the paid role
Ask what the adult wants to discuss and use the appropriate supervisor for actual conduct questions, limiting shared information. Affection is not consent to contact, and a worker cannot be assigned a personal relationship as care. If staffing changes, preserve wanted assistance without punishing disclosure. Qualified support may help complex questions; avoid diagnosis, shame or deciding the adult's social life.
Use supervision to preserve both people's boundaries
The current NADSP ethics code supports relationships important to the person while calling for respectful professional boundaries and supervisory guidance. Utah disability-relationship education offers a local resource context; it does not prescribe a particular employment action. Ask the provider how the adult can express feelings privately and how the worker can obtain guidance without humiliating them. Agree what changes, if any, are necessary for care to continue appropriately. Preserve the worker's dignity and choice as well as the adult's relationship rights; neither person owes romantic involvement as part of support.
For ordinary help at home, explore care in Brigham City and contact the Northern Wasatch team. Describe the tasks the person wants help with and the arrangements already confirmed. Ask about the actual service scope and availability before relying on a care schedule.
Sources and current program information
- NADSP Code of Ethics Revision2, official NYOPWDD-hosted copy
- The Arc and AAIDD sexuality position statement, revised2013
- ARC England SMARTS service-manager education, staff-feelings question
- Connecticut Advocates Corner: Healthy Friendships and Relationships
- Utah State University IDRPP Healthy Relationships project
