Article provided by Knapp & Roberts. Please visit our Web site at www.krattorneys.com.
You know your loved one best: what makes him or her happy, the special needs that require close supervision or assistance, the dangers the world might hold. When you place your loved one in a group home, you do so with high hopes for appropriate standards of care the staff will provide. While you do your best to communicate the treatment your loved one must receive, can you trust that the staff will follow your directions?
As an advocate for a person with special needs, such as Down Syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and cognitive disability/mental retardation to name a few, you will want to be familiar with the support and services that Arizona's Division of Developmental Disabilities provides. With the help of DDD, your loved one can strive to lead a productive and contented life. Your vigilance, however, will be necessary to help protect your loved one, who could suffer at the hands of caretakers who are negligent or intentionally harmful.
Securing Services for Your Loved One
The Division of Developmental Disabilities is a state-run entity that provides and pays for services to qualified people with developmental disabilities. These services include group homes, where individuals can live in settings that give them a sense of independence and belonging to the community. The care staff at group homes helps residents with everything from eating, dressing, shopping, medication administration and day programs. They are supposed to provide the care and supervision your loved one needs.
To obtain these services you need to contact DDD and work with a support coordinator. The support coordinator will tell you which companies provide services, and you may choose one. Then, meeting with the group-home manager and the support coordinator, you will discuss in detail the care your loved one requires. You, along with DDD and the group home manager, will develop a specific care plan that may evolve over time. DDD and the group home are obligated by law to provide for the safety and well-being for those residing in group homes.
Measures to Keep Your Loved One Safe
If your loved one needs constant, 24/7 supervision, make sure that you are very clear when you explain this to the group-home manager and DDD. "24/7 supervision" does not just mean having a caretaker in the same building. It means that a caretaker is always watching your loved one, in the same room if needed, ready to help when necessary. Be specific and have them define what "supervision" means and have it in writing (e.g., the ISP or Individual Service Plan).
Specific safety measures may include assistance with walking, eating, bathing and toileting; technological tools like door chimes to prevent wandering off and video cameras to monitor safety in private rooms; and administration of prescribed medication and therapies.
Communication and Supervision
Often, group home residents are not able to fully communicate with those around them. In many cases they cannot tell if they are being neglected or abused. In addition, it can be difficult for your loved one to tell you that his medication is making him feel sluggish or her food was so hot it burned her mouth. By remaining vigilant and visiting often, you will come to know when something isn't right, even if you do not know exactly what happened. Take notice when your loved one is acting differently and follow your instincts: if you sense a problem, investigate; ask questions; demand an explanation. Depending on the situation, you should also consider contacting a lawyer. People with developmental disabilities are easy targets for sexual predators and are often victims of abuse and neglect.
Showing up unannounced is a powerful tool, and you have the right to use it. You are the eyes and ears of your loved one. Read your loved one's file and any notes it contains. If you notice an injury or witness an unusual occurrence, demand an incident report that states what happened, who was involved and how the incident will be prevented in the future.
The more time you spend at the group home, the more likely it is that your loved one will receive the proper care he or she is entitled to. You are in a position to monitor staffing levels, supervision, cleanliness and all the other things that make a group home a safe and enjoyable place to live. Merely phoning to check in is not enough — your physical presence speaks volumes.
You Make the Difference
If you suspect that your loved one suffered injury or wrongful death in a group-home setting, contact the group-home manager, your support coordinator and DDD. Also contact an Arizona attorney who has experience with group homes and the rights of people with developmental disabilities. Your lawyer can educate you about possible legal remedies for the injury or death, and if you are not a legal guardian or conservator, he or she can help you pursue an appointment, if appropriate.
Placing a loved one in a group home can make you feel powerless, but you have more influence than you might imagine. Staying involved and attentive will make an enormous difference for the safety and well-being of the person whose care is so important to you.