Nursing home residents have the right to be treated with dignity and respect as well as the right to privacy among others. But, what happens when those rights aren’t respected? And, how do we ensure residents maintain their rights, but keep them safe at the same time?
As required by federal law those rights include:
o The right to access all records within 24 hours.
o The right to be fully informed of his/her health status and medical condition.
o The right to refuse treatment.
o The right to execute an Advanced Medical Directive.
o The right to be informed if they qualify for Medicaid benefits.
o The right to be informed of all available services and their costs.
o The right to be informed of the identity of the facility’s Medical Director and how to contact him/her.
o The right for the resident’s family to be notified of accidents and changes in the resident’s medical condition.