Celebrating Residents’ Rights Month: Advocating for Dignity and Respect

Every October, we celebrate Residents' Rights Month to affirm the rights of people living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care (LTC) settings, and to raise awareness about the need for quality care and safety protections in these facilities. Residents' Rights Month underscores the fact that older adults and people with disabilities who live in LTC facilities retain their basic human rights - the right to privacy, the right to make decisions about their care, the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and more.

This year, the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care selected "The Power of My Voice" as the theme for Residents' Rights Month to reinforce the importance of ensuring the people who live in LTC facilities are in the driver's seat on decisions that affect them, and to champion the inclusion of residents in the development of LTC policies and programs.

Advocating for the rights of older adults and people with disabilities - and ensuring they are safe, valued, and heard ­­no matter where they live - is crucial to our mission at ACL and an important component of our programs, including our grants for state LTC ombudsman offices. Ombudsmen and their representatives play a vital role in helping LTC residents and their families resolve conflicts and advocate for their rights. (It is fitting that the American Bar Association selected a complementary theme, "Ombuds: Here to Hear You," for Ombuds Day earlier this month. Celebrated the second Thursday of every November, Ombuds Day recognizes the important role of ombuds across a variety of fields.)

Key Rights for Residents

Residents' Rights Month is about ensuring that all residents are informed about their rights and supported in asserting their choices; these rights include:

1. Right to Dignity and Respect: Every resident should be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, without discrimination.
2. Right to Make Decisions: Residents should have a say in their care, including the right to choose their health care providers, participate in their care plans, and make decisions about their daily lives.
3. Right to File Complaints: If residents have concerns or experience poor care, they have the right to complain to staff, the Ombudsman program, and regulatory agencies without fear of retaliation.

Ombudsman programs work to protect these rights every day. In 2023, ombudsmen around the country:

• Helped residents with nearly 8,000 complaints related to dignity and respect.
• Helped residents with nearly 15,000 cases related to care planning, access to information, and transitioning to live in less restrictive settings.
• Reported over 18,000 interactions to provide information and support to resident and family councils, which can help give residents and families a greater voice in their care and quality of life.

How You Can Help

Here are a few ways you can get involved:

• Share information about residents' rightson social media or in your community. Help others understand the importance of treating LTC residents with dignity.
• Advocate to ensure that policies and programs affecting residents reflect their needs and preferences.
• Spend time with residents, listen to their stories, and be a source of comfort and connection. You also can reach out to your state LTC ombudsman program to ask about volunteer opportunities.

No one should be deprived of their fundamental rights because of their age, their abilities, or where they receive services and supports. By advocating for these essential rights, we can contribute to a more compassionate and caring environment for all of us.

Need a LTC ombudsman or want to volunteer? Find your state's program by visiting ACL's National Ombudsman Resource Center.