Excellent. Below is a structured breakdown of liability scenarios relevant to Cedar & Iron, along with risk types, example incidents, exposure level, and mitigation strategies. These reflect your current model: solo operator, non-clinical, high-trust elder support in private homes in ZIP codes 97229/97225.

Cedar & Iron Liability Scenarios & Risk Mapping

Scenario Risk Type Example Exposure Level Mitigation Strategy
Client falls during visit Legal / Health Client trips while walking you to the door Moderate Define non-caregiver role clearly in agreement; carry general liability insurance; document incident immediately
Client injures self after your safety observation Legal / Reputational You noted a loose rug but the client never removed it, then fell later Moderate Document home checklist + communicated recommendations; include safety disclaimer in Scope Addendum
Family accuses you of financial manipulation Legal / Reputational A child sees a Venmo request and misinterprets it High No financial involvement beyond billing; always invoice via business system; avoid receiving personal gifts or cash; include clause in agreement
You are asked to provide medical help Legal / Scope Creep Client has fall or asks you to administer medication High Include clear “non-medical” role disclaimer; refer to family/911; never dispense meds; carry professional liability insurance
Client shares personal or legal info you weren’t meant to know Legal / Confidentiality You overhear or are shown legal documents or passwords Moderate Include confidentiality and reporting policy; do not retain or act on legal/financial information unless explicitly authorized
Property is damaged during a visit Legal / Financial You accidentally knock over a vase or scratch a wall moving a chair Low Carry general liability; clarify in agreement that major tasks (e.g. repairs, rearranging furniture) are outside your scope
Client or family feels boundaries are crossed Reputational / Legal You ask about their health, they feel it’s intrusive Moderate Boundaries training + tier-specific scripts; use family agreement with defined communication expectations
Client declines rapidly, family blames you for missing it Reputational / Legal Dementia accelerates and you didn’t escalate High Include observational role in contract, not diagnostic; document decline flags; escalate via written update to family per Emergency Protocol
You’re in a vehicle accident during a client-related errand Legal / Financial Errand run during work hours causes a crash Moderate Vehicle insurance with business rider or reimbursement; clarify errand scope in contract
Client accuses you of misconduct Legal / Personal Safety False accusation of theft or inappropriate behavior High Always document visits, maintain communication log; never be alone in sensitive areas; maintain a GPS timestamped visit log via system; consider installing passive audio logging for legal protection (with consent)

Mitigation Framework You Should Establish

  1. Signed service agreement with clear exclusions (not a caregiver, not liable for non-acted-on safety suggestions, etc.)
  2. Addendums: scope, escalation, confidentiality, emergency contact hierarchy
  3. Visit documentation log: brief, factual, timestamped entries (e.g. Notion + AI summary)
  4. Insurance coverage:
  5. Standard incident reporting protocol: basic form to log incident + notify family with next steps

Client Agreement Drafts

Addendum A: Emergency Contacts & Escalation Preferences

Addendum B: Scope of Services & Exclusions

Addendum C: Confidentiality & Family Access