LONG-TERM-CARE RESIDENTS are people who need help with their daily living activities. They may be elderly, have a disability, or be recovering from an illness or injury. Long-term-care facilities provide a variety of services to help these residents, including housing, meals, personal care, and medical care.
In order to ensure that long-termcare residents receive the best possible care, it is important that they have certain rights. These rights are protected by law and are designed to ensure that residents are treated with dignity and respect, and that they receive the care they need.
Some of the key rights of longterm-care residents include:
• The right to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their age, race, religion, or disability.
• The right to make their own decisions about their care, including the right to refuse treatment.
• The right to privacy and confidentiality, including the right to see their medical records and to have visitors.
• The right to participate in activities and social events, and to have access to the outside world.
• The right to complain about their care to the facility administrator, the ombudsman, or another advocate.
• The right to a safe and clean environment, free from abuse and neglect.
It is important for long-termcare residents to know their rights and to be able to exercise them. If a resident feels that their rights have been violated, they should report it to the facility administrator, the ombudsman, or another advocate.
There are several organizations that work to protect the rights of long-term-care residents. These organizations can provide information and support to residents and their families. They can also investigate complaints and take action to ensure that residents’ rights are upheld.
Some of the organizations that work to protect the rights of longterm-care residents include:
• The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (NCCN)
• The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
• The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
• The National Center for Assisted Living.
If you are a long-term-care resident or have a loved one who is a resident, it is important to know your rights. By knowing your rights and being an advocate for yourself or your loved one, you can help to ensure that they receive the quality care they deserve.
Here are some additional tips for protecting the rights of long-termcare residents:
• Get to know the staff at the facility and build relationships with them.
• Talk to other residents and their families to get their feedback on the facility.
• Keep a record of any concerns you have.
• Be assertive in advocating for yourself or your loved one.
• Don’t be afraid to complain if you feel that your rights have been violated.
By following these tips, you can help to ensure that long-term-care residents are treated with dignity and respect, and that they receive the care they need.
In addition to the rights mentioned above, long-term-care residents also have the right to:
• Choose their own physician and other providers.
• Receive information about their care in a language they understand.
• Be free from restraints unless they are medically necessary.
• Participate in activities that are meaningful to them.
• Make decisions about their finances.
• Visit with their loved ones.
These are just some of the rights that long-term-care residents have. It is important for residents and their families to know these rights and to be able to exercise them. By knowing their rights, residents can help to ensure that they receive the quality care they deserve.
Lori Davis, Ombudsman Specialist I Volunteer Coordinator. ✲
