Celebrating Residents' Rights Month in Long-Term Care Communities
October is nationally recognized as Residents' Rights Month, a time to focus on the rights and dignity of individuals living in long-term care communities throughout the United States. Each year, a theme is chosen to celebrate the month and residents, care providers, loved ones, and advocates are encouraged to recognize and celebrate these individuals in the context of this theme.
This year, The Power of My Voice, "emphasizes self-empowerment and recognizes the power of residents being vocal about their interests, personal growth, and right to live full, enriching lives"
Residents' Rights should be more than a poster on the wall, a sheet of paper in an admission packet, or a topic of conversation in Resident Council meetings. Resident Rights should be woven into every aspect of the daily care of individuals living in long-term care communities - from their environments to their personal choices and preferences, respecting the individuality of each unique person, and providing equal access to information and services. Why is such emphasis placed on Resident Rights for people living in long-term care communities? Because the very things that we value the most - independence, dignity, privacy, and self-determination - are challenged when we become dependent on others for our care.
Individuals living in long-term care communities should be given the opportunity to provide details of their personal preferences to their caregivers. Consumer Voice provides a Personal Directive for Quality Living that long-term care communities can use to give residents the opportunity to provide important details about their lives, preferences, daily routines and hobbies. These can be used as a 'snapshot' of the resident to provide individualized care plans and more personalized daily interactions with care staff.
Moving away from a 'medical model' of care towards a model of care that emphasizes the individuality, dignity and self-determination of each person has been an evolving process in long-term care. Culture Change models such as the Eden Alternative and Well-Spring have provided a blueprint for nursing homes that supports the person-centered care approach. Organizations such as Consumer Voice and Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care provide education and advocacy specifically for long-term care residents, their caregivers, and staff.
Residents are encouraged to advocate for their rights in long-term care communities. A resident is provided with multiple avenues to use to advocate for himself and voice concerns, including contacting the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for your facility or filing a complaint with the regulatory authority. Resident Councils are often the most effective way to voice concerns and advocate for change in nursing homes, as they act as a collective voice for the entire facility. The Advocating for Change in Your Facility and the Advocacy Suggestions handouts provide information and tips for residents, families and Resident Councils on how to most effectively use their voices to advocate for a better nursing home.
While Resident Rights are recognized and celebrated in October, advocating for the highest level of care should be a priority in long-term care communities 365 days a year. Thank you to Governor Roy Cooper for proclaiming October "Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month" in North Carolina. Please join the celebrations in your local long-term care communities!
To learn more about becoming an advocate for residents in long-term care communities, please contact your local Ombudsman's office. You can also find more information HERE.
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