October Is Residents’ Rights Month

“Care Matters” is the theme of Residents’ Rights Month, which the Consumer Voice is recognizing in October.

The Consumer Voice, a Washington-based organization that advocates for the rights of long-term care consumers, celebrates Residents’ Rights Month annually.

The rights of residents in long-term care facilities are guaranteed by the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law, and include the right to participate in one’s own care, to make independent choices, and to have one’s privacy respected.

The annual Residents’ Rights Month allows “every facility to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect, and the value of each individual resident,” the Consumer Voice website says.

A full list of activities, training tools, and resources centered on Residents’ Rights month is available at the Consumer Voice website.

— by Matthew Ozga