October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated to honor residents living in long-term care facilities and those receiving care in their home or community.
Ombudsman program representatives all over the country will be celebrating with family members, residents and facilities. This annual event is sponsored by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice), celebrating its fifty-year anniversary this year. It is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the dignity and rights of every individual receiving long-term services and support.
At the Consumer Voice Conference in 1981, nursing home residents determined the need to set aside time to celebrate residents and their rights. Consumer Voice (then NCCNHR) organized a successful petition drive to persuade Congress to designate a “Residents’ Rights Day.” Senators Claude Pepper (D-FL) and David Pryor (D-AR) responded by introducing a Congressional Resolution for that purpose. In 2011, Residents’ Rights Week was expanded to Residents’ Rights Month, held annually in October. This expansion allows for more time to conduct community educational programs and festive events to call attention to this important topic. This year’s theme Stand with Me, highlights the importance of solidarity and support for residents who stand up and advocate for their rights, as well as the value of encouraging the community to join residents in sharing their voices.
The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act ensures specific rights for nursing home residents. These rights can be found on our MCQC website at Residents-Rights-in-a-Nursing-Home.pdf. Every resident and family member should be aware residents have the right to self-determination and to use their voice to make their own choices.
The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has worked for nearly 50 years to promote resident’s rights. Their volunteers and staff advocate for residents in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. This program is a vital connection between the residents, the long-term facility and the families.