June, a resident in a care home, attended a presentation by an advocate about the Code of Rights. She learned these rights apply to all health and disability care, and that she could raise concerns about her care.
June was worried about the timing of her medication. Her doctor instructed her to take pills with food, but the nurse administered them after breakfast. June appreciated the busy staff and had a good relationship with them, so she hesitated to raise the issue.
After the presentation, June spoke to the advocate about her concern. She wanted to maintain a positive relationship with staff while addressing the issue. The advocate explained how she could raise her concern respectfully and offered support.
The next day, June decided to call the advocate to plan her next steps. Together, they explored options including:
- Speak or write to the manager herself.
- Get help from the advocate to write to the manager.
- Meet with the manager with the advocate present.
June chose to have the advocate help write a letter and attend a meeting.
The letter was positive, and the manager responded quickly, showing the concern was taken seriously.
At the meeting:
- The manager explained the challenges of timing medication for all residents.
- Solutions were proposed, prioritising June receiving medication with breakfast or additional food if needed.
- The conversation was open, honest, and collaborative.
As a result, June felt confident she could raise concerns directly with the manager, knowing they would be listened to and addressed.