Is Your Loved One in a Medicare or Medicaid-Certified Nursing Home? These are His/Her Rights.

Nursing home residents have rights that are protected under federal law, and which must be explained to the resident in understandable language. In summary, these are the rights (See the link below from Medicare.gov. for a more detailed description):

(1) To be treated with respect.

(2) To participate in activities.

(3) To be free from discrimination.

(4) To be free from abuse and neglect.

(5) To be free from restraints.

(6) To make complaints.

(7) To get proper medical care, which includes the rights to:

Be fully informed about your health status
Be fully informed about your medical condition
Be involved in the choice of your doctor
Participate in decisions that affect your care
Take part in developing your care plan
Access your records
Complain
Have your representatives notified of significant medical issues/developments that affect you
Receive written information explaining all services and fees
Manage your money
Have your privacy respected
Spend time with visitors
Receive social services
Leave the nursing home
Be protected against unfair transfer or discharge from the nursing home
Participate in resident groups
Have your family and friends involved.

These are important rights. And, once again, they are protected by federal law.

If you feel that your, or your loved ones, rights are being violated by a nursing home, it is important that you contact an experienced attorney to determine what legal recourse you may have, including where, when and how to file the appropriate complaint, and whether a lawsuit is warranted.

For more information, see:

https://www.collinslaw.com/Personal-Injury/Nursing-Home-Abuse-Attorneys.shtml

https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/part-a/rights-in-nursing-home.html