Local Attorneys. Real Results

March 2018 Nursing Home Resident Rights

It is important for nursing home residents and their loved ones to be aware of their rights and protections under the law.  Every nursing home facility must list and give all new residents a copy of these rights.

These resident rights include:

  • Being treated with dignity and respect
  • Provided with information concerning fees and services prior to entering into a nursing home
  • Being allowed to manage their own finances or to give this responsibility to a trusted individual
  • The right to privacy, and to keep and use your personal belongings in a way that doesn’t interfere with the rights of others
  • The right to see your own doctor, to be informed of your medical conditions and the right to accept or refuse treatment.
  • The right to choose your schedule and the types of activities you wish to partake in
  • The right to a comfortable environment in a home-like setting which enables you to be as independent as possible

If you’re interested in learning more about your or a family member’s rights as a nursing home resident, feel free to read this information provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Rights as a Nursing Home Resident.  You may also want to check out the following publications: Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home and Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Care.

To find out more information regarding a specific nursing home facility, you can look them up through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nursing Home Compare site.  For an explanation of their rating system, visit their Five-Star Quality webpage.  We recommend that anytime a loved one is being considered for placement in a nursing home facility that the above links are consulted.  If a facility you are considering has a 1 Star review, consider your alternatives.

New York State nursing home residents are also able to look up facilities through the New York State Health Department’s Nursing Home Profiles.