Is Your Loved One in a Medicare or Medicaid-Certified Nursing Home? These are His/Her Rights.

Nursing home residents have rights that are protected under federal law, and which must be explained to the resident in understandable language. In summary, these are the rights (See the link below from Medicare.gov. for a more detailed description):

(1) To be treated with respect.

(2) To participate in activities.

(3) To be free from discrimination.

(4) To be free from abuse and neglect.

(5) To be free from restraints.

(6) To make complaints.

(7) To get proper medical care, which includes the rights to:

• Be fully informed about your health status
• Be fully informed about your medical condition
• Be involved in the choice of your doctor
• Participate in decisions that affect your care
• Take part in developing your care plan
• Access your records
• Complain
• Have your representatives notified of significant medical issues/developments that affect you
• Receive written information explaining all services and fees
• Manage your money
• Have your privacy respected
• Spend time with visitors
• Receive social services
• Leave the nursing home
• Be protected against unfair transfer or discharge from the nursing home
• Participate in resident groups
• Have your family and friends involved.

These are important rights. And, once again, they are protected by federal law.

If you feel that your, or your loved ones, rights are being violated by a nursing home, it is important that you contact an experienced attorney to determine what legal recourse you may have, including where, when and how to file the appropriate complaint, and whether a lawsuit is warranted.

For more information, see:

https://www.collinslaw.com/illinois-nursing-home-abuse-lawyer/

https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/part-a/rights-in-nursing-home.html