Ask ECRI: Companions to Accompany Independent Living Residents on Shopping Outings

​A risk manager at a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) recently asked for guidance in responding to a request from an independent living resident, who asked the CCRC to provide a companion to accompany her while she completes errands such as shopping. The CCRC has a guideline that residents who cannot carry their own bags cannot participate in shopping outings alone; companions hired by residents are permitted to accompany the resident on such outings on the CCRC's bus. In this case, the resident has asked the CCRC to provide the companion service without charge.

In our response, ECRI Institute notes that questions regarding "additional services" and what should be included or excluded in scope of service come up from time to time, particularly in independent living and home and community based services (HCBS). This particular question relates to several risk domains, including the services that a provider organization chooses to provide (scope of service); the organization's...