Nursing Home Residents Rights You Need to Know

When it comes to senior living facilities in Lincoln Park, know your residents’ rights. Seniors have rights, protected by law, including those in skilled-nursing care. Make sure to ask questions during tours and visits of assisted-living or other senior residences before moving in; read contracts and paperwork, and ask a trusted friend or family member to review it with you. Reach out for help when needed, or if you are looking for senior living situations in the area. Senior Living Experts can help connect you with a network of support to navigate the terrain of finding housing, providers, or services in the Lincoln Park region.Some things to know about your rights as a senior include the following information:

For those residing in senior living facilities in Lincoln Park: Know your residents’ rights before you move in or out

Know that you- or your senior- have some very clear and clarified rights under the law. These extend to living facilities and the treatment of older individuals that reside there. Feel like your rights are being violated? First, know what your rights and protections are, and then do something about it!Some of every senior’s rights include:

Protection

First and foremost is the protection of any senior who chooses to file a staff grievance or complaint, without fear of repercussions or reprisal. This also ensures that staff of any senior living facility address the issue promptly and make efforts toward resolution.

Preservation

Another right of residents in senior living situations is the preservation of quality of life. Federal law requires facilities to provide care that promotes quality of life, which includes freedom of choice, dignity, and self-determination. That is, services and activities will be provided to ensure the well-being of those living there- though it is entirely up to the individual whether they opt to participate or not.

Information

Another right of the senior resident is to obtain a copy of any rules, regulations, resources, and costs of the facility that they are staying at - including a copy of the residents’ rights. Residents that have roommates will receive ample notice, in writing, of any roommate or room changes. Furthermore, residents have the right to receive this information in a language that they can understand.

Participation

Residents of a senior living situation have the right to receive care as needed, and that this care is by consent of the resident. Seniors have a right to remain informed about their care, medical conditions, or treatment, as well as the right to refuse it. The resident should be given access to their medical records and documentation when requested, and as relates to the living facility.

Privacy

Seniors also have the right to privacy and confidentiality. Any communication related to the senior should only be shared when the individual has consented to release this information, signed by the senior or their guardian in some situations. This includes medical, financial, or personal information.

Autonomy

Another right of the senior resident is the independence and autonomy to make personal choices and decisions. This may include choosing what to wear, how they manage their money, or how they opt to spend their leisure time.

Seniors in skilled-nursing care also have distinct rights and protections under the law.

Seniors that live in skilled nursing settings and nursing home residents also have legal rights; in fact, if the senior is a Medicare recipient, they have guaranteed protections under Federal law.Some of the very precise and protected rights of a senior in a nursing facility are similar to those of seniors in other living situations and include:

• Freedom from discrimination.
• Freedom from abuse or neglect.
• Right to medical treatment.
• Right to privacy and respect.
• Freedom from involuntary discharge from a facility or transfer to another facility without consent.
• Right to participate in activities and groups on-site.
• Right to have visitors.
• Right to vote, if the senior is a US citizen.
• Right to manage their own money.
• Right to have information pertaining to services and costs of the facility.
• Right to proper and safe living arrangements.
• Freedom to voice complaints without fear of repercussions.

Reach out for advocacy and legal assistance as needed

There are times when seniors’ rights seem to get overlooked or ignored; enlist the help of a lawyer or senior service that provides legal advice and counsel. There are laws in place intended to protect the rights of seniors, and resources available to help seniors navigate the often-complicated legal system in these situations.Some of the things that legal services for the elderly can assist your senior with include:

• Medicare and insurance issues.
• Dealing with nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and home health care disputes.
• Scams and thefts.
• Issues of abuse.
• Appointing power of attorney.
• Wills and living wills.
• Evictions or housing problems.
• Debt resolution and working with collection agencies.

Do you or someone you care about feel like your rights are being compromised? Senior Living Experts is an online resource that can help seniors in the region connect with a network of facilities, advocates, and providers that can help improve your current situation, protect your rights, and preserve your independence.