13 Sep October is Resident’s Rights Month
October is a time to celebrate and educate others about their rights for the nearly 1.25 million residents living in over 26,000 U.S. nursing homes and residential care facilities.
Each year, the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (The Consumer Voice) leads the charge in promoting Resident’s Rights Month. This yearly celebration focuses on raising awareness of long-term care residents’ dignity, respect, and value.
During Resident’s Rights Month, nursing home residents, their families and friends, ombudspersons, facility staff, and others come together to learn about and discuss resident rights. Awareness of these issues helps ensure that all residents can age with dignity and respect.
Resident’s Rights Month is also a time to reflect on the progress made in protecting long-term care residents’ rights. In 1987, the Nursing Home Reform Act was passed, which guaranteed certain rights for nursing home residents.
These rights include the right to:
- Be treated with dignity and respect: Residents have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. They should never be belittled, humiliated, or harassed.
- Be free from abuse and neglect: Residents have the right to be free from physical, mental, and emotional abuse, as well as sexual assault and exploitation.
- Be free from restraints: Physical or chemical restraints can only be used if they are necessary to treat a medical condition and are ordered by a physician. Even then, they must be used in the least restrictive way possible.
- Be informed about their care: Residents have the right to know about their medical condition, any changes in their condition, and all of their treatment options. They should also be told about any changes in the home’s policies that could affect them.
- Be involved in their care: Residents have the right to be involved in all decisions about their care, including developing their care plan.
- Have access to their medical records: Residents have the right to see their medical records and to have them explained to them.
- Be able to complain: Residents have the right to complain about the care they are receiving without fear of retaliation.
- Have their belongings and privacy respected: Residents have the right to keep and use their personal belongings within reason. However, they should also be afforded as much privacy as possible.
- Be able to exercise their rights: Residents have the right to exercise all of their rights without interference or reprisal.
2022 Theme: Inspiring Unity within Our Community
The 2022 Resident’s Rights Month theme is “Inspiring Unity within Our Community.” This theme was chosen to encourage our residents, families, advocates, staff, and others to work together to uphold residents’ rights.
When we unite, we are stronger. We can use our collective power to ensure that all residents are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We can also work together to create positive changes in long-term care.
So let’s come together during Resident’s Rights Month – and every month – to ensure that all residents can age with dignity, respect, and quality care!
Learn More with Vintage
At Vintage, we work to ensure that all Colorado nursing home residents have their rights protected. As part of our commitment to helping residents learn about available opportunities for their health and wellness, we are pleased to announce free presentations regarding Medicare enrollment.
Medicare enrollment is open now, so visit Vintage online today to learn more about the upcoming presentations – and how you can help ensure that all nursing home residents are cared for!