Buckner Retirement Services expanded its mission of caring for both young and old in 1854 by opening its very first retirement community in Dallas. As the years have passed, more facilities have opened up around Texas with a total of seven serving Austin, Longview, Houston, Beaumont, San Angelo, and Bunet (Our history, n.d.). In 1951, Elsie Gayer, a registered nurse, founded a small hospital treating tuberculosis patients, but began losing business once medicine became more advanced. Years later, in 1957, Gayer donated the hospital to Baptist General Convention of Texas and the name was changed to Baptist Memorial Geriatric Center. It wasn’t until 2010 that Baptist Retirement Services and Baptist Memorial Ministries …show more content…
While many of the businesses in town are located in or near the downtown area, BRC is located further out compared to these other places. Often times, family and residents complain and ask that they be transferred to a facility that is closer to their home where their family can visit them more often. One of the things that does come in handy and helps residents gain access to the services is that not only is there a bus stop right in front of the facility, but transportation is provided for them when they need to go to places such as doctor’s appointments.
Ethical Issues Potential ethical issues include the client’s right to self-determination. Although the social work profession may advocate to a client’s right to self-determination it seems to be that this is a problem in a nursing home facility. Often times, due to the resident’s or patient’s age or condition, families and guardians are the ones who make decisions for them not allowing the resident to do as they wish. As evidenced in a study of 148 elderly patients conducted by Abramson, family is the biggest influence in decision making. Out of this study, families control final decisions 39.5% of the time and have substantial influence 37.3% of the time (Abramson, 1988). Seeing how much influence a family may have puts to question the fact as to whether or not a client’s right to self-determination is truly honored in such a