I saw some articles in the Washington Business Journal about Sunrise Assisted Living this morning. One entitled "Sunrise Assisted Living Charges Pile Up."
Fear is what often keeps my elderly clients from moving out of their home, even though they have voiced wanting to make the move. After all, it's human nature to avoid those things that make us uncomfortable. It's more comfortable to be uncomfortable with what you know, than to think about increasing your level of comfort in an unfamiliar place. I get this, and so does every other professional who works with seniors.
It's my humble opinion that when you work with seniors, you have a higher bar to which you must perform. Doing what is legal, or even what is required isn't enough. You have to do what's right, and only what's right for the client. I consider this to be a fundamental basic truth. (And frankly, I find it's often easier to do the right thing! It takes a lot of energy to be a swindler!)
By doing what's right, you can gain your elderly client's trust to help them take the those first steps to break through the fear that keeps them so paralyzed.
When the media reports on falls in nursing homes that went unreported, and questionable accounting practices at assisted living communities, it only contributes to an already overwhelming lack of consumer confidence. I don't know if Sunrise did anything wrong or not and my soapbox rant is not meant to indict them. The suspicion and alleged wrong doing are enough to increase consumer fear.
It makes my blood boil, and it should yours too.
Comments