October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated by The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities. It is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect, and the rights of each resident.
Residents’ rights are guaranteed by The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 which was established with the goal that “residents of nursing homes receive quality care that will result in their achieving or maintaining their “highest practicable” physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being”
Upon admission, a resident and/or their representative should be given a copy of Residents’ Rights. A sample of such a booklet is available at the U.S. Centers for Medical and Medicare Services (CMS).
Residents may understandably be reluctant, or fearful, to speak out for themselves against administration or staff of a facility where they are living. Establishing a Residents Council and/or a Family and Friends Council can be a helpful avenue to give voice to concerns, as well as contacting Long Term Ombudsman.
Each state should have their own LTC within that state’s Health and Human Services. In Texas, you can find the Office of the Long-Term Ombudsman here: https://apps.hhs.texas.gov/news_info/ombudsman/
————————————————————–
Rosen & Spears is a plaintiff law firm which seeks to protect the rights of healthcare consumers and their loved ones through medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, financial abuse of seniors, and other types of claims. For more information, please contact us.