Nursing Home Rights and You

As the “Greatest Generation” ages, and as the first of the Baby Boom Generation turns 60, an increasingly large part of the population must recognize that they or their parents might one day seek treatment in a nursing home. When a resident of a long-term care facility is abused or neglected, however, the nursing home may have been negligent.

A Resident's Rights

State and Federal governments have enunciated policies protecting the elderly, who often are unable to protect themselves. In Ohio, R.C. §3712.13 articulates a resident’s rights regarding long-term care facilities.

  • The right to be free from abuse
  • The right to make reasonably informed choices concerning their medications
  • The right to be treated with respect
  • The right to have your privacy respected
  • The right to have virtually unlimited access to your family
  • The right to receive medical care of your choice
  • The right to have your advanced directives honored
  • The right to perform activities of daily living (ADL’s)
  • The right to choose your dining habits and diet
  • The right to retain some of your personal possessions
  • The right to maintain the lifestyle to which you have come accustomed
  • The right to have your immediate needs met