What are Residents’ Rights
What are Residents’ Rights?
Residents’ Rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law.
This law requires each nursing home to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and care for residents in a manner that promotes and enhances quality of life, and ensures individual dignity, choice, and self-determination.
Many states also include residents’ rights in state law or regulation.
A person living in a nursing home maintains the same rights as an individual in the larger community.
A resident should not decline in health or well-being as a result of the way a nursing home provides care.
Nursing home residents have the right to a dignified existence, the right to self-determination, the right to be fully informed, and the right to privacy and access.
They have specific rights regarding financial affairs.
There are also rights when residents are being discharged or transferred.
Nursing home residents have the right to raise grievances without discrimination or retaliation, or the fear of it.
They have the right to freedom from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and misappropriation of property.
They also have the right to freedom from physical and chemical restraints.
Nursing home residents have the right to be treated with consideration, respect, and dignity, recognizing each residents’ individuality. They also have the right to make independent choices.
The quality of life of each nursing home resident is to be maintained or improved. That is their right.
If you or a loved one were moving into a nursing home, wouldn’t you want to make sure YOU had these rights?
Think about how these rights affect YOUR quality of life?
Visit Consumer Voice to get a copy of Residents’ Rights and learn more.
www.theconsumervoice.org
Please share this information with people you know.
