Monday, October 17, 2011

October is Nursing Home Residents' Rights Month

The Consumer Voice has established this month as Nursing Home Residents’ Rights Month, in honor and celebration of residents of long-term care facilities. This is an opportunity to draw attention to the rights that residents are entitled to in care facilities, and to increase awareness of the laws protecting and enforcing those rights.

The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law guarantees rights to residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Some of these rights include:

· Freedom from abuse, mistreatment, and neglect
· Freedom from physical restraints
· Privacy
· Accommodation of medical, physical, psychological, and social needs
· Participation in family and resident groups
· Dignity in care and treatment
· Self-determination
· Free communication
· Participation in the review of one’s own care plan, including full information
· Voicing of grievances with discrimination or reprisal

For more information on Nursing Home Residents’ Rights Month, including materials, links, activities, and resources, please visit The Consumer Voice online. You may also request a free copy of Jason’s book, How to Keep Your Loved One Safe in a Wisconsin Nursing Home, for additional information on residents’ rights.