In the business of senior living, the stakes are inherently hight, serving clients on the twilight journey towards an inevitable end. This inevitability brings not only the natural grief of parting but also the specter of legal recriminations from those left behind. Senior living facilities, then, might be seen not just as caretakers but as guides along this final passage, tasked with ensuring the journey is as serene as possible to prevent that grief from descending into litigation.
In this delicate balance, the comfort and safety of residents are paramount—these spaces must not only be God’s waiting rooms but sanctuaries of peace and dignity. To fall short is to amplify the sorrow of bereavement and to invite lawsuits.
Yet, while the happiness of residents is crucial, it is the residents’ relatives who wield the legal power. Lawsuits originate not from the residents themselves, but from their families, who may feel aggrieved or neglected by the facility.
The root of many such legal challenges? A failure in communication. When families feel sidelined or ignored, legal action can become a loudspeaker for their distress.
Despite the simplicity of these strategies, their implementation can be anything but straightforward. They demand considerable sensitivity and skill from staff who may already be stretched thin, risking further strain.
Fortunately, technological solutions can bridge gaps in communication without overwhelming facility resources. An exemplary tool is the How’s Mom app, which integrates seamlessly with a facility’s Electronic Health Records (EHR). This platform enables effortless communication between care staff, residents, and family members. Relatives can chat with residents, provide feedback, and stay informed about care decisions through a user-friendly interface.
The genesis of How’s Mom was personal. Created by Matt Prasek after his grandfather’s serious injury led him to spend extensive time in a nursing home, the app was born from his desire to reduce the burden on both families and staff by streamlining updates and information flow.
How’s Mom not only facilitates communication but also ensures compliance and enhances risk mitigation strategies. This tool is just one of many that we recommend to our clients in senior living, as part of a comprehensive approach to effective risk management and liability reduction.
For more details on these strategies and tools, please contact Michael Richards or Dale Nelson at 855.351.7487 or Contact us.
Through such measures, senior living facilities can transform the narrative of the final chapters for their residents and their families, from one of potential strife to one of supported, dignified closure.