Dealing with a Nursing Home When an Elder is Injured
Feb 02, 2012 10:18AM
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Question: I was contacted by a representative from a nursing home to discuss the circumstances surrounding my mother's injury. Should I talk to them?
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Senior Living Expert, Kim Linder
Answer:
Yes, I would meet with them, but not alone. I would invite an advocate, geriatric care manager even if this is the only service they are performing or an attorney if it is very serious. I would be sure to have it recorded. Including you asking everyone in the meeting to announce their name and title and verbally agreeing to have the conversation recorded.
Have your own list of questions to be sure everything you want to know is covered or will be covered within a reasonable amount of time. (How did she get injured? How quickly did someone come to help her? Is there a way this can be prevented so it doesn't happen again? Is this something new that we all need to look at? Is my mother's condition changing?)
I suggest you be well-prepared in any case whether this ends up being a simple conversation with easy results or a law suit down the line. Take photos as well for documentation.
In closing, in order to help you nourish yourself be sure you acknowledge how well you handled the situation. For example: During today's meeting with the nursing home, I remained level-headed, spoke with confidence and asked good questions. I feel like I'm doing a good job as a caregiver to my mother.
Good luck with your situation.
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Kim Linder is a certified senior advisor and Founder of Senior Holistic Living, a resource center for elders. She is also the host of “The Caregiver Hour”, a radio show on Clear Channel 1250AM WHNZ providing support and information. She has been a professional caregiver for the past 10 years and has worked as a Marketing Director and Executive Director of Assisted Living Facilities in Florida, where she developed monthly educational and wellness programs.
For more information, go to http://seniorholisticliving.com/
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