Nursing Home Law
YOUR RIGHTS AS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY OF A LOVED ONE IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY
- The resident is entitled to care that will maintain his/her well-being to the highest degree practicable which means the following:
- Primarily, each patient has a right to receive adequate and appropriate medical care and to be fully informed of her medical condition
- Every resident has the right to be free from mental and physical abuse, including the use of medications as chemical restraints
- The individual or family member responsible for the resident must be informed of substantial changes in the resident’s condition – a physician must also be informed of substantial changes by the nursing home
- The Plan of Care for the resident should be revised on an “on-going” basis to reflect changes in the resident and care
- The responsible party for the resident is entitled to and is recommended to attend the Care Plan meetings concerning the residents
- As the resident herself is entitled to know everything concerning her care and treatment, the resident’s representative is entitled to the same information
- Every resident and resident’s representative is entitled to present and should present grievances to the facility’s staff and administrator without fear of reproach or negative consequences in the care and treatment of the love one
- If abuse or negligence is suspected, look for the following signs:
- Excessive weight loss
- Unnecessary restraints
- Use of heavy sedatives
- Bruises on the skin
- Nervousness of the resident
- Withdrawn behavior
- Resident is now unable to communicate
- Bed sores
- Dehydration
- Broken bones
