Family learns valuable lesson about reading admission contract.
I saw this article written by a family member who failed to read the contract when admitting his mother to the nursing home. When she was neglected and he wanted to remove her, the nursing home charged him extra money because the family did not provide one week’s notice!! Incredible. Make sure you read every clause in the contract especially to see if there is an arbitration clause in the contract. If you see one, strike it out of the contract; you do not want to waive your right to a jury trial. Below are excerpts from the article.
I sent my mother, Sarah, to ManorCare in Easton for physical therapy after she suffered a fractured right hip. On my interview to sign her contract, everything seemed in order. My mother did not receive the care I had hoped for and what ManorCare said would be performed. I informed the nursing home that I wanted to remove her.
They told me she needed a release from her doctor, which I obtained. As I was wheeling her out, an official from ManorCare stopped and told me I hadn’t given them a week’s notice and would be charged for an extra week, which was $1,757. They said it was stated in the contract.
Neither my wife nor I remember being told about the week’s notice at the time of signing the contract. We paid the bill but are not happy about it. My mother, who lives on a limited income, should get her money back.