BALTIMORE, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The death of Lorraine Bayless at the Glenwood Gardens community has sparked outrage due to a released recording of a 911 call where the caretaker refused to perform CPR. It was revealed later, however, that the 87-year-old Bayless had signed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Despite public anger, Glenwood Gardens was absolutely in the right, both legally and ethically, and any outrage is misplaced. SeniorMarketing.com hopes to bring some light to this heat, explaining the importance of thorough training for senior living community workers, especially in terms of medical agreements like the DNR form.
"Senior living communities deal with end-of-life situations every day, and we send our condolences to the Bayless family," said Kevin M. Williams, president of SeniorMarketing.com. "That's why it's important for these communities to develop a consistent training regimen and a clearly understood set of policies. In this instance, Glenwood Gardens did everything right — staff knew of Ms. Bayless's DNR, and in a difficult situation, her ultimate wishes were respected."
DNR orders have become increasingly popular since their initial introduction in 1987. Older Americans and their families now have a measure of choice in how their lives will end. Senior living communities must follow suit by having an airtight protocol in place for identifying those residents with DNR orders and respecting such wishes when the time comes.
"Balancing emergency medical care against the wishes of residents is one of the greatest challenges a senior living community faces," continued Williams. "In spite of the seemingly negative publicity, Glenwood Gardens did the right thing. Even Ms. Bayless's daughter, herself a nurse, has come out in support of the community. This is simply a case where the news media has only reported half of the story."
SeniorMarketing.com specializes in pro-active and efficient marketing techniques for senior living communities and senior care agencies. At a time when personal medical wishes are an important aspect of senior care, SeniorMarketing.com encourages all such communities to think carefully about the development of their own relevant policies and best practices. Ideally, seniors, their families and community staff are all on the same page, which is the surest way to respect the wishes of those in their later years. By all accounts, Glenwood Gardens appears to have done everything properly, and the community is an example of quality training in action.
About SeniorMarketing.com
Baltimore-based SeniorMarketing.com was created with twin goals in mind. First, the company helps connect caregivers and seniors with local, affordable care options. Second, the company provides senior living communities with the marketing expertise to increase their bottom line and offer more services to more people.
Contact:
Kevin M. Williams, President
SeniorMarketing.com
5022 Campbell Blvd., Suite N-3
Baltimore, MD 21236
Phone: 1-888-523-3311
Email