• Nursing homes don't have to accept all applicants, but they must comply with Civil Rights laws that don't allow discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, or religion under certain conditions.

• You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
• You have the right to make your own schedule, including when you go to bed, rise in the morning, and eat your meals.
• You have the right to choose the activities you want to go to.

• You have the right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion by anyone.

• You have the right to refuse restraint, except if you are at risk of harming yourself or others.

• You must be informed in writing about all facility services (those that are charged and not charged to you) and fees before you move into the nursing home.
• The nursing home can't require a minimum entrance fee as a condition of admission if Medicare or Medicaid pays for your care.
• You must also be informed when any services and fees change.
• You also have the right to chose to either work or not work for the facility.

• You have the right to manage your own money or to choose someone you trust to do this for you.

• You have the right to privacy and to keep and use your personal belongings and property as long as they don't interfere with the rights, health, or safety of others.
• You have the right to send and receive mail and nursing home staff should never open your mail unless you allow it.
  
• You have the right to use a telephone and talk privately.
• Some nursing homes may provide you with greater rights and protections of your health information. Ask the nursing home.
• The nursing home must protect your property from theft. This may include a safe in the facility or cabinets with locked doors in resident rooms.
  
• If you and your spouse live in the same nursing home, you are entitled to share a room (if you both agree to do so).
  
• You have the right to reject a move to an inappropriate room. Please note that the nursing home has to notify you before your room or your roommate is changed.
  
• You also have the right to review the nursing home's health and fire safety inspection results.

• You have the right to be fully informed in a language you understand about your total health status, including your medical condition and medications.
• You have the right to see your own doctor.
• You have the right to take part in developing your care plan.
• You can express any grievances you may have about your care and treatment.
• You have the right to create an advance directive.
• You have the right to self-administer medications unless the nursing home finds this unsafe.
• You have the right to refuse medications and treatments (but this could be harmful to your health) and refuse to participate in experimental treatment.
• You have the right to access all your records and reports, including clinical records (medical records and reports), within 24 hours.
• You have the right to photocopy your records for a standard fee when you provide two days notice to the nursing home.

• You have the right to spend private time with visitors.
• The nursing home must permit your family to visit you at any time, as long as you wish to see them.
• You don't have to see any visitor you don't wish to see. Any person who gives you help with your health, social, legal, or other services may see you at any reasonable time. This includes your doctor, representative from the health department, and your Long-Term Care Ombudsman, among others.

• The nursing home must provide you with any needed social services, including counseling, help solving problems with other residents, help in contacting legal and financial professionals, and discharge planning.
• They also have to provide you with an appropriate activities program designed to meet the needs of you and its residents.

• Living in a nursing home is your choice. You can choose to move to another place. However, the nursing home may have a policy that requires you to tell them before you plan to leave. If you don't, you may have to pay them an extra fee.
• If you are going to another nursing home, make sure there is a bed available for you.

• You have the right to make a complaint to the staff of the nursing home, or any other person, without fear of punishment.
  
• The nursing home must resolve the issue promptly.

• It is necessary for the welfare, health, or safety of you or others.
• Your health has declined to the point that the nursing home can't meet your care needs.
• Your health has improved to the point that nursing home care is no longer necessary.
• The nursing home hasn't been paid for services you received
• The nursing home closes

• Family members and legal guardians may meet with the families of other residents and may participate in family councils.
• By law, nursing homes must develop a plan of care (care plan) for each resident.
• You have the right to take part in this process, and family members can help with your care plan with your permission.
• If your relative is your legal guardian, he or she has the right to look at all medical records about you and make important decisions on your behalf.
• Family and friends can help make sure you get good quality care. They can visit and get to know the staff and the nursing home's rules.
  
  

• You have a right to form a resident group to discuss issues and concerns about the nursing home's policies and operations.

Most home have such groups, often called a resident council. The home must give you meeting space, and must listen to and act upon grievances and recommendations of the group.


16. Information on how to apply for and use Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

For people seeking admission to the nursing home, the nursing home must provide (orally and in writing) and prominently display written information about how to apply for and use Medicare and Medicaid benefits. They must also provide information on how to receive refunds for previous payments covered by such benefits.


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About the Author: Catharine D. Allado- Writes articles for www.ladolceliving.com - the most trusted and comprehensive online directory of Senior care homes in California, Florida and the rest of the United States.


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