Navigating Unspoken Boundaries at Work

I've been a night-shift caregiver for the past five years. The job can be emotionally draining, but I enjoy it because there's something deeply rewarding about supporting someone during their most vulnerable moments. My current client is an elderly man who has dementia. He doesn't always recognize me from one day to the next, which makes each interaction unique and challenging in its own way. A couple of weeks ago, we had a situation that really tested my boundaries as his caregiver. We'd established early on that I would be strict with him, ensuring he followed our care plan, but it was always done within the context of what felt right for both of us. That night, he was particularly agitated and refused to take his medication or go to bed at a reasonable hour. As we often do in such cases, I tried to reason with him, explaining that not taking his medicine could lead to severe health consequences. However, instead of calming down, he became more insistent on doing things his way. Frustrated and worried about his health, I decided to take a more assertive stance. I gently but firmly guided him towards the bed, repeating in a calm yet resolute voice that it was for his own good. What happened next surprised me as much as it did him. He unexpectedly leaned into my guidance, almost submissively accepting my instructions without further protest. It felt like an unusual level of trust and compliance, which was both comforting and confusing given the circumstances. Here's where things got tricky: afterwards, I started to question whether his compliant behavior was genuine or if it could have been a result of him being in a vulnerable state due to his condition. Was my approach ethical and professional? Or did it cross an unseen line between care and control? So here's the direct question to you all: Is there ever a point where strict discipline from a caregiver can become problematic, even if it results in compliance and adherence to necessary health routines? How do you draw that line when dealing with someone who is unable to fully comprehend or agree to their own care plan due to cognitive impairment? Would love to hear your thoughts on this.