Residents’ Rights Month

Especially in light of the events of 2020 and the impact that those events had on long-term facility residents, there is a particular need to ensure that residents’ rights are “recognized, recovered and reasserted.”

• The right to be treated with dignity and respect
• The right to privacy
• The right to develop a comprehensive plan of care with the staff
• The right to be fully informed about care and treatment options
• The right to file grievances

There are also protections in case of grievances. If any of the above rights are breached or violated, you have the right and the authority to act.

It’s often the case that the breaching of these rights is seemingly insignificant; Nursing and facility staff members may barge into residents’ rooms without so much as knocking, forsaking privacy and overlooking the fact that these rooms are the residents’ homes. Or a “slight” change will be made to a treatment plan, such as switching up a single medication, and the resident is never consulted, despite the fact that this will directly affect their body.

It can be difficult to detect or know for sure if you or your loved one’s rights are being violated, or to know how to respond, which is where we come in.