Residents’ Rights and
Responsibilities
A resident in a long-term care facility has rights
guaranteed under federal and state law. The care facility
must protect and promote the rights of its residents.
Knowing one’s rights can be very important. If you are
a resident in a long-term care facility, these are some of
your rights:
RIGHT TO DIGNITY AND RESPECT
The facility must treat you with dignity and respect. You
have the right to:
• Be treated as an individual
• Live in surroundings that are safe, clean and
comfortable
• Keep and use your own things as much as possible
• Be protected from any kind of abuse, harsh treatment
or neglect
• Be free from restraints (physical or chemical) imposed
for discipline or convenience, and not required to
treat your medical symptoms
• Share a room with your spouse, if you both agree
RIGHT TO KNOW
You have the right to know about the things that affect
you. This includes the following:
• The items and services the facility provides, the cost,
and if it is included in the base rate
• Which items and services are and are not covered by
Medicare and Medicaid
• Who owns and operates the facility and the name of
the administrator
• The name and specialty of your doctor and how to
contact him/her
• Your total health status, plan of care and any changes
that occur
• How the facility manages resident funds and
safeguards resident property
• Your right to make your own health care decisions,
including making an advance directive
• Being informed of your rights and responsibilities
and any changes in them
• To examine the facility’s latest survey inspection results
66 Senior Resource Directory 2020-2021
• To review your records within 24 hours of a request
and to purchase a copy at a reasonable price within
two days
• To be consulted immediately (and have your
physician and representative notified) if:
º You are injured due to an accident
º Your condition changes significantly
º Your treatment needs to be changed significantly
º There is a transfer, discharge, or change of room
or roommate
RIGHT TO CHOOSE
You have the right to make your own choices, free from
pressure or fear that something bad will happen if you
exercise your right to choose. You have the right to:
• Choose your doctor and treatment, and be part of
decisions and care planning
• Be in charge of taking your own medications – if the
team caring for you believes this is safe
• Choose your own groups and activities
• Perform work at the facility only if you want to
• Exercise your rights, such as the right to vote
RIGHT TO PRIVACY
You have the right to privacy and to have your personal
and medical records kept confidential. You have the
right to privacy:
• In sending and receiving mail (delivered promptly
and unopened)
• During phone calls, visits, and resident and family
meetings
• While you receive care
The facility is not required to provide a private room
for each resident.
RIGHT TO STATE A GRIEVANCE
You have the right to make known any concern or
complaint you might have and to have the facility
respond promptly. You have the right to do this without
fear that anything bad will happen to you because you
complained.
You may also file a complaint with the state agency
that inspects and certifies facilities concerning resident
abuse, neglect, the taking of resident property, or failure
to comply with advance directive requirements.