|
|
|
Green, Ohio —
Ohio will better assist families and elderly relatives.
On Aug. 1, the new “next of kin notification” law will take effect.
Executive Director of the Ohio Council for Home Care (OCHC), Kathleen Anderson, said the law is a tool for helping families protect older relatives by assisting emergency services personnel and others locate family and friends during a crisis situation.
The law enables the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to create a database where adults can leave names of relatives or friends to be contacted in emergency situations.
“The primary focus of the law when it was being discussed was to help the families of those who are killed in an accident or injured and unable to communicate,” said Anderson. “That obviously is an extremely important goal. But the law has the added benefit of helping emergency personnel locate next of kin for elderly citizens who may be lost and confused.”
“If an elderly person has a driver's license or state identification card, the new law will greatly speed up the time it takes to get in touch with family members,” she said.
Anderson said it is important for all citizens to be aware of how they can bring about changes to make life better for their family members.
“With that in mind, we have expanded our consumer and patient information sections provided on our Web site. This is in addition to the services offered to our members, who serve hundreds of thousands of Ohioans,” she said.
Many of questions can be answered by visiting the site at www.homecareohio.org.
“There is a wealth of information there, and we encourage everyone to visit and also comment on what else they would like to see made available,” said Anderson.
OCHC, is a statewide trade association with more than 400 members. It was founded in 1965 to represent home care and hospice agencies and their patients in Ohio. Membership is open to home care and hospice providers, suppliers to home care and hospice industries, and individuals not employed by a home care or hospice agency.
The Ohio Council's Web site makes it easier for the general public to learn about such important pieces of legislation and to track and support such efforts.
Ohio will better assist families and elderly relatives.
On Aug. 1, the new “next of kin notification” law will take effect.
Executive Director of the Ohio Council for Home Care (OCHC), Kathleen Anderson, said the law is a tool for helping families protect older relatives by assisting emergency services personnel and others locate family and friends during a crisis situation.
The law enables the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to create a database where adults can leave names of relatives or friends to be contacted in emergency situations.
“The primary focus of the law when it was being discussed was to help the families of those who are killed in an accident or injured and unable to communicate,” said Anderson. “That obviously is an extremely important goal. But the law has the added benefit of helping emergency personnel locate next of kin for elderly citizens who may be lost and confused.”
“If an elderly person has a driver's license or state identification card, the new law will greatly speed up the time it takes to get in touch with family members,” she said.
Anderson said it is important for all citizens to be aware of how they can bring about changes to make life better for their family members.
“With that in mind, we have expanded our consumer and patient information sections provided on our Web site. This is in addition to the services offered to our members, who serve hundreds of thousands of Ohioans,” she said.
Many of questions can be answered by visiting the site at www.homecareohio.org.
“There is a wealth of information there, and we encourage everyone to visit and also comment on what else they would like to see made available,” said Anderson.
OCHC, is a statewide trade association with more than 400 members. It was founded in 1965 to represent home care and hospice agencies and their patients in Ohio. Membership is open to home care and hospice providers, suppliers to home care and hospice industries, and individuals not employed by a home care or hospice agency.
The Ohio Council's Web site makes it easier for the general public to learn about such important pieces of legislation and to track and support such efforts.
