OTHER ISSUES/CONCERNS Patient/family conflict, abuse, neglect, exploitation
Observations and Notes
Options Mediation Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsmen Reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation
Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsmen. Long-Term Care Ombudsmen serve as independent advocates for assisted living and nursing home residents. They receive, investigate, and find ways to address resident’s complaints about their care. They can educate residents, families, and others. While they are advocates for residents only, they may be helpful partners in resolving conflicts or improving communication with a resident. Reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Familiarize yourself with the signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and mandated reporting requirements. If you suspect a vulnerable adult (a person who is at least 18 years old and lacks the physical or mental capacity to provide for their daily needs) is being abused , neglected , or exploited, there are agencies that can investigate or respond. Which agency will depend on the source or location of the alleged harm. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Mediation. Mediation is a way to resolve conflicts or explore options with the assistance of a trained, neutral professional, called a mediator. Mediators help people have difficult conversations by guiding a discussion, facilitating the sharing of information, identifying what is important to each person, and finding solutions that everyone can support. Mediation may be helpful in resolving disputes with patients or families. It can also be used to explore alternatives to guardianship that can meet a patient’s needs. Mediation is faster and less expensive than guardianship and other court processes. Courts are also increasingly turning to mediation to resolve conflicts that give rise to a guardianship petition or as a means to dismiss the case or to limit, modify, or terminate a guardianship. WATCH VIDEO SCAN ME Mediation is a voluntary process, meaning a person cannot be forced to participate. It is also confidential, which means that what is said in mediation cannot be used in court and the mediator cannot be called to testify. Mediation allows participants to come up with more flexible and creative solutions than are possible if a court is involved. Source/Location of Harm Community (family member, friend, etc.) Abuse of assisted living or nursing home resident Financial exploitation Abuse in a licensed or federally certified facility or by a Developmental Disabilities Administration provider Medicaid fraud and abuse or neglect of adults in assisted living facilities and facilities that receive Medicaid funds
Options
Contact a local Adult Protective Services office or call 1-800-91-PREVENT (1-800-917-7383). Contact a local Adult Protective Services office or call 1-800-91-PREVENT (1-800-917-7383). Contact the Office of Health Care Quality. You can file a complaint online or call 410-402-8108. Contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 1-888-743-0023 or email MedicaidFraud@oag.state.md.us. Contact the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. 20
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