As a long term care administrator I have experienced many family members over the years that have been great advocates for their loved ones in my assisted living and skilled nursing communities. I have also seen many who have worked hard at being an advocated but who have been less than effective.
It is important for families to be champions for their loved ones care and quality of life. So I would like to offer 4 quick tips to help increase your effectiveness.
1. Write vs. Talk - When an issue arises that requires your attention you can get really good results by putting your concerns in writing. A written letter hand delivered to the administrator requesting resolution and or a meeting is a powerful communication tool.
A letter generally requires a written response as a minimum which means the resolution will be well thought out and thorough. Along the same lines it is a good idea for you to understand what the grievance policy is for the community and use as needed.
2. E-mail Exchanges - By developing an e-mail relationship with the administrator you get a deeper level of access and increased frequency of communication. My only caution is to use with restraint.
3. Company Policy vs. Licensing Regulation - At times family members will request things the facility refuses to do. Pay attention to the reasons given. If they say it's against "company policy" you may have some flexibility. However if your request is a violation of "licensing regulations" there may not be much that can be done.
4. The Good and the Bad - There are few things in life that are all good or all bad and senior care communities are no exception. A great way to ensure your concerns are taken seriously is to make sure you communicate the things that the community is doing well from time to time. When a family member only communicates negativity it is hard to take their concerns seriously over time. Try and balance your comments to be more effective.
These tips are great ways to improve the effectiveness of your communication with any given long term care community. Please check out my blog for more great information on helping families navigate assisted living and skilled nursing.
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