It is not uncommon for nursing home admissions contracts to include provisions requiring the resident to consent to binding arbitration of any dispute. In this recent case in Wyoming, the question was the enforceability of an optional arbitration clause. The nursing home admission contract for Aletha Boyd was signed by her Agent under a General Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) which expressly gave the Agent the actual authority to perform all acts “without limitation” on behalf of the principal (Boyd). In bold print, the contract stated that the resident had the option at that time of whether or not to consent to arbitration. The Agent consented to arbitration at the time of signing.
Ms. Boyd died within two weeks of admission, allegedly due to negligent nursing care, and her Estate sued the facility, Kindred. Kindred filed a motion to compel arbitration pursuant to the signed admissions contract. The motion was denied by the trial court, but on appeal, the Wyoming Supreme Court reversed and ordered that the case be sent to arbitration. The Court’s rationale was that the authority to consent to arbitration was encompassed within the expressed broad power of the DPOA the arbitration clause was not unconscionable because it was optional, and the fact that the designated arbitrator was no longer in service did not void the contractual provision. The case is called Kindred Healthcare v. Boyd.
When selecting a nursing home, the applicant or their duly authorized Agent under POA or legal guardian is often faced with making an urgent decision, reviewing lengthy detailed contracts, and making arrangements for this move under time pressure. Senior care planning requires careful consideration of the rights and obligations of the parties involved, and legal advice is helpful to ensure that the individual and family understand what they will be facing.
Call us for help in senior care and estate planning, elder law and nursing home admissions issues …. 732-382-6070