For most family members, placing a loved one in the hands of a 24-hour care team in a rehabilitation or nursing care facility can be a difficult, inevitable, and often unforgiving choice.
They are faced with the simplest, yet the most detrimental concern of not knowing what is happening in the care of their loved one from one moment or one day to the next.
But making this decision doesn’t have to be all bad. Being prepared by knowing what to expect is going to play a crucial role in feeling secure in your decision.
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Family Concerns
Prior to rehabilitation and nursing care placement, it is important to address, affirm, and make necessary considerations and/or arrangements regarding family concerns at an initial intake meeting.
This will help family and care teams become better acquainted with one another as well as care and treatment experiences and expectations. For instance, a common, minor concern of families is making the rooms of their loved ones feel as close to home as possible.
With that, families may have questions about what can and cannot be brought into the facility.
In extreme cases, there may be a prospective elderly resident that will need constant care who is unable to speak or use a phone or any other communication device.
This is a vulnerability that can make care and communication with staff and family quite difficult, and also a liability for the staff and facility.
There should be an established action plan to keep family informed in such an instance and unapologetically all instances as they pertain to the care of a resident.
Other familial concerns that may be addressed in an initial meeting are standard of care, care commitment, and experience of staff members and administrators as well as all persons’ willingness and ability to communicate with one another regarding family concerns and the care plan.
The proper representation will assist in establishing legal and most beneficial approaches to alleviating these concerns.
Family Rights
More important than not, it must be noted that a family member’s responsibility, whether acknowledged and respected or not, simply does not end with committing a loved one to the care of individuals outside of the home and family.
Legal representation can ensure that family members or one designated family member are notified of all care regarding their resident.
This can include but is not limited to any alterations necessary to improve care: administering and/or discontinuing medications or therapies or any changes in living quarters.
An initial meeting with a legal representative will help family members become more aware of their rights and proper execution of those rights in the establishment and application of an appropriate care plan.
Resident Rights
In an ideal meeting and placement, considerations and care plan arrangements for the prospective resident include the resident’s input and desires when there is still an ability to communicate desired care and specify the roles of the family in that care.
Whether of sound mind or not, the resident is entitled to the best representation and advocacy concerning care. Residents also have the right to express any agreement, disagreement, or questions and preferences regarding care and the persons chosen to advocate on their behalf.
This can include but is not limited to the location of any documents that were previously drawn for such a condition as this and the allocation of any funds in accounts that would contribute to the quality of care as well as the payment of any debts or bills accrued by the resident prior to being committed to outside rehabilitation and care.
Seeking Help
One of the key qualities to look for in getting the proper legal representation is experience. Finding a law firm that has handled cases involving residents in rehabilitation and nursing care facilities is important.
Having an established rapport with staff and administration in this field is just as critical as knowing the rights of residents, families, and the facility.
Utilizing the decades of experience and focus of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help guide families and loved ones through the establishment of a care and advocacy plan as a preventative measure toward easing the burden of worry over quality care.
While it is an experience that cannot be less difficult, there can be reassurance and security in the form of legal representation.
This type of security is a protective and proactive approach that ensures the concerns and rights of family members and residents are not overlooked or violated and ultimately protects not just the families and residents but also the facility itself.