Residents in senior care have both rights and responsibilities, and it is important for residents, their family members, and healthcare professionals to not only know what they are, but to be strong advocates and enforce them on a daily basis.
Some Basic Rights of Residents
Residents have the right to have one’s representative notified. It is the responsibility of the care community to notify the resident’s doctor, and if known, their legal representative when certain events take place. For instance, representatives should be notified when the resident is involved in an accident or is injured and needs to be treated by a doctor. They should also be notified when the resident experiences a dramatic change in physical, mental or psychological status, has a life-threatening condition, experiences medical complications, needs to change treatment course and if the care community decides to transfer or discharge the resident.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Healthcare Compliance? Checkout my Healthcare Compliance CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
Residents have the right to acquire information on services and fees. All residents have the right to receive verbal and written information concerning services and fees including those that are charged and not charged before moving any time services and fees change. It should be stressed that the care community cannot require a minimum entrance fee if the resident’s care is paid for by Medicare or Medicaid. The resident has the right to know about and apply for and use Medicare and Medicaid. Any refunds for services should also be made known to the resident.
Residents have the right to manage their money. They can either manage their own money or can assign someone they trust to manage it for them. A written statement should be made when the resident deposits money at the care community or asks the office to hold or account for their money. Residents have the right to access their bank accounts, cash, and other financial records. The care community cannot combine resident’s funds with the community’ funds. The care community must also protect the resident’s funds from loss. When a resident dies, the care community is obligated to return any funds with a final accounting to the person or court handling the resident’s estate within 30 days.
Residents have the right to acquire proper privacy, property, and living arrangements. They have the right to keep and use personal belongings and their own property as long as it does not interfere with the rights, health, or safety of other residents or staff. Residents have the right to visits, to make and receive personal phone calls, and to send and receive mail. The care community is responsible for protecting their property from theft. Residents also have the right to share a room with their spouse as long as they both live in the care community and agree to do so. The care community is obligated to notify the resident before his or her roommate is changed and should take the resident’s preferences into account.
Closing Remarks on Resident Rights in Senior Care
As you can see from this article and Part 1, residents have many important rights and responsibilities. There are still many more to cover, but I’ll save them for Part 3 and maybe Part 4. Each right protects the resident’s quality of life, their dignity and their citizenship. Just because they require some level of care in either an assisted living or skilled care community, doesn’t mean that they no longer can enjoy all of the rights they had as younger, healthier, and independent people.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Healthcare Compliance? Checkout my Healthcare Compliance CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)