• The right to be informed.
• The right to manage financial affairs.
• The right to choose a physician and participate in planning, care and treatment.
• The right to privacy and confidentiality of personal and clinical information.
• The right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisals.
• The right to examine survey results and plans of correction.
• The right to perform or refuse to perform services for the facility.
• The right to send and promptly receive mail that is unopened.
• The right to have visitors.
• The right to use a telephone without being overheard.
• The right to retain and use personal possessions.
• The right to share a room with a spouse.
• The right to self-administer drugs if the interdisciplinary care team decides this is safe.
• The right to refuse a transfer to another room under certain conditions.

• Transfer and discharge rights – right to remain in a facility unless certain conditions warrant otherwise.
• The right to receive notice of bed-hold policy and readmission.The right to equal access to quality care regardless of source of payment.
• The right to refuse or waive Medicare or Medicaid.
• The right to be free of physical or chemical restraints.
• The right to freedom from mistreatment, neglect, and abuse (verbal, mental, sexual, physical, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion).
• The right to dignity.
• The right to self-determination and participation.
• The right to participate in resident and family groups.
• The right to participate in other activities.
• The right to accommodation of needs.
• The right to participate in an ongoing program of activities.
• The right to social services
• The right to have a safe, clean and comfortable environment.

Residents’ rights are guaranteed by the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act, which was part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987.  All nursing homes must meet the requirements of the Nursing Home Reform Act to participate in Medicare or Medicaid.

Reprinted from AMIM’s Caring for the Ages newsletter