Residents’ Rights
Policies covering the rights of residents are established by state and federal regulations. The SNF must implement and explain these policies to its residents and must post a summary of residents' rights (a residents’ bill of rights) in the facility for easy reading. Be sure to notice it and ask any questions you have about its provisions.
Every resident in a nursing home should receive appropriate care, be treated with courtesy and enjoy continued civil and legal rights. The Residents' Bill of Rights is as follows:
In New York State, nursing home residents have the right to:
- Dignity, respect and a comfortable living environment;
- Quality of care and treatment without discrimination;
- Freedom of choice to make independent decisions;
- Safeguard of money and property;
- Safeguards in admission, transfer and discharge;
- Privacy in communications;
- Participate in organizations and activities of their choice;
- An easy-to-use and responsive complaint procedure; and
- Exercise all rights without fear of reprisals.
For a more information or an explanation of nursing home residents’ rights, ask the nursing home administrator or social service personnel for policies on residents’ rights.
