Quality of Care Vs. Marketing of Care

I called a care /assisted living complex the other day for a client and asked for some update on info about their services and avaiability. I happened to ask if they had a social worker. The woman, head of marketing, told me that they don't have one anymore--they used to , and they are "looking at it again."

Then she told me that have have looked at their competitors in their price bracket and those facilities don't have a social worker either.

Then she told me (not all of this in the same order) that they charge about $300.00 more per month than similar facilities because they do so much more in helping their residents get to programmes and so on.

Then she went on a spiel about how important socializing is for everyone.

Then she insinuated that they don't need a social worker because they have people like her and a recreation department.

Beware of marketing people when you go to see facilities. Their job is to sell you something, not help you figure out what you need and/ or what your loved one and you need. They are often not trained in geriatrics. Only one place have I every been where the person who gave me a tour, was trained ( Augustine House, in Ladner).

I wanted to tell her that Social Work has an important role to play in care and meeting the emotional needs of residents and family memebers. Having done it for many years in many facilities, I know it is a unique role. I also know that more often than not, nursing directors will tell you that, once they have had a Social Worker, they appreciate the value of the role in the facility.

I thought it was also interesting that she talked about what her competitors were doing ( she wouldn't tell me who they were). She didn't tell me about her company's evaluation of what good care is about (Indirectly, I suppose she was telling me, I suppose). What she was saying is that the company was making first an economic decision, not a care based decision. It also made me wonder if she and the company have a real understanding of the needs of their clients.

I would think twice about if I want my clients in a facility where care is not a first priority.