Some
agencies weren’t measuring up, though. So, Washington State passed
legislation that went into effect January 1 of this year, to put referral
agencies under increased scrutiny. The Elder and Vulnerable Adult
Referral Agency Act came about in part as a result of public outrage beginning
in 2010 over media coverage of referral agencies referring elders to care
providers who had documented cases of neglect and abuse.
At year's
end, I can say the wake-up call sounded January 1 was good. If you're looking
for in-home care, assisted living or adult family homes and use an agency, the
law gives you and your aging parent added protection. For example, the law
mandates that if an agency refers you to a care provider, within 30 days of the referral, they must have
checked the Department of Social and Health Services website www.dshs.wa.gov for assisted
living and adult family homes or the Department of Health website www.doh.wa.gov for home care. The agency must look for State Enforcement
letters (letters that point out violations, fines and stop placement orders),
and give you copies of the letters. In addition, referral agencies need to
keep detailed information about every provider they refer to and update it at
least annually.
There are
other provisions that protect you, the consumer. Each agency must have
$1,000,000 worth of professional and general liability insurance. And
agency employees are "mandatory reporters." This means that if
they witness or suspect any abuse, neglect or financial exploitation they must
report it to the appropriate authorities.
A key provision
of the law requires an extensive intake of the elder which includes questions
on diagnoses, medications, daily routine, food preferences, allergies, personal
care needs and more. When done well, the intake helps a provider
determine whether he or she can meet the elder's needs. The law also requires that
confidential health care information be treated the same way your doctor treats
it.
I work for
a housing and care referral agency called Silver Age. I'm proud of what we do to help
families, and proud of the protection the new law has given to vulnerable
adults.
Bottom
line: the law was needed, both to protect elders from abuse, and to keep
all referral agencies accountable. That's good for you and your aging parent.