Whose life is it, anyway? Supporting clients to live at risk.

This paper introduces readers to the concept of (capable) frail elderly clients choosing to live at risk. Promoting client centred care and independence can be particularly challenging where the client's goals are different than those of the health care team, and there are identified risks to the client's health. Discussion includes the ethical principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, benefecence and paternalism, and other factors that influence the assessment of risk, including the degree of risk, probability of risk, and risk of harm to others. Client Centred Care is introduced as a process model to guide decision-making in cases where clients choose to live at risk.