An Eden home in our area is struggling with finding a balance between the elders and staff caring for one another. With the deepening of relationships between the caregivers and the elders, the elders and their families want to thank the caregivers by purchasing gifts for them. They are buying gifts for the staff's children, giving necklaces and sending flowers etc. to show their appreciation to our staff. The home's leadership recognizes that traditionally the policy of administration throughout Nursing Homes has always been that staff can not accept gifts and at their home they have told the residents and their familiy that if they want to show their appreciation they can provide food for the entire staff. They fully realize that the residents need to be allowed to provide care as well as receive it. The residents would be devistated if they were not allowed to give gifts and they have even had a family member say "then I will send her flowers to her house if I can not send them to work".

The home's leadership recognizes that relationship development will lead to special relationships between the residents and families. One of their concerns is that legally they need to prevent any appearance of favoritisim by staff, to residents that buy gifts vs those that do not, and to be careful not to present the appearance of "pay offs". We both know that the gifts they want to give are from the heart and that it is important to allow them to give back, yet the home is just not sure how to allow it and still protect the facility legally; where to "draw the line".

Are there are other facilities that have encountered this same problem as they have gone through their Eden journey? They would greatly appreciate any input that would help them out. Can anyone offer them some wisdom for their journey?

Denise Hyde