Ethics, Confidentiality and Boundaries in Long-Term Care

Mary T. Zak-Kowalczyk, NHA, JD, Associate General Counsel

2600 Old Fairhaven Parkway | 9am-10am | RSVP Ashley.ashley@brookdale.com |Breakfast Provided

Healthcare workers — often referred to as caregivers — regularly encounter ethical dilemmas when caring for seniors and the disabled. Unlike other patient groups, however, the resolution of such issues is often more challenging, given that seniors and the disabled may have cognitive or physical deficits, further complicating the evaluation and discussion of these situations.

This presentation provides tools and practical advice and guidance on how to apply key ethical principles to resolve everyday problems. These strategies and approaches will then be discussed with regards to confidentiality, privacy, advance directives and surrogate decision-making. Lastly, the presentation will review the relationship between caregivers and residents/patients and how to establish and maintain healthy, productive boundaries in these relationships.

Following this presentation the participant will be able to:

• Evaluate ethical issues for the seven key ethical principles which guide caregivers and residents/patients

• Identify practical ways to resolve common resident/patient ethical dilemmas facing them and other healthcare professionals daily

• Explain the concepts of privacy, security and confidentiality of protected health information of HIPAA and state confidentiality laws

• Discuss how to uphold an individual’s rights to privacy and confidentiality when working with seniors and their families and outside healthcare providers

• Review relationships with their residents/patients and identify ways to maintain solid, professional boundaries when interacting with residents on a daily basis