Two Assisting Hands Staff Earn Ethics Certification

Ethics, informed decision making and honoring client wishes are all core values behind everything at Assisting Hands Home Care. To further this mission, two Assisting Hands staff members completed the Stein Educational Ethics Development (SEED) training with as members of the Northern Ocean Regional Ethics Committee, known as OREC which is under the office of the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Gerry Patrizio, owner of Assisting Hands and Vikki Hurley-Schubert, director of community relations, both earned the designation by completing the training program through the OREC in August 2023.

What Does the Ombudsman Do?

For individuals in long-term care communities, the Ombudsman provides support and ensures that decision-making is resident-focused and consistent with ethical and legal standards. One way the Ombudsman does that is through Regional Ethics Committees (RECs). These specially trained committees can be called upon to provide an impartial, comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the situation and offer non-binding recommendations to the individuals involved. The committees, which are throughout the Garden State, provide much-needed education, conflict resolution, and ethical guidance to facilities and families when difficult decisions need to be made.

The OREC is composed of a variety of long-term health care professionals from many disciplines including home care, assisted living communities, hospice and elder care coordinators.

How the Process Works

In addition to exploring the resident’s wishes, the Office also gathers clinical information regarding the resident’s cognition, condition, and prognosis, to ensure that legal standards for withholding/withdrawing treatment are met.

After successfully completing the training program, which reinforced effective judgement protocols, components of advanced care planning and the history of ethics law in New Jersey, they are now qualified to participate in ethical consultations with the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman.