Nursing Home Resident Rights

Nursing Home Resident Rights

Sometimes our loved ones are no longer able to take care of themselves and require the help of healthcare professionals such as nursing homes, group homes or long-term care facilities. We trust that these healthcare professionals will treat our loved ones with care and uphold the highest standards to provide for the physical well-being and safety of our family members. When they fail in this regard and their failure leads to injury, pain, discomfort, loss of health and the enjoyment of life activities, or death, we feel betrayed. Government statistics show that abuses in nursing homes are a growing problem that is becoming increasingly alarming as more of our loved ones enter these facilities. Ohio has adopted a Patients Bill of Rights that requires certain minimum standards be provided to residents of nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and group homes all residential care facilities. Ohio's Patients Bill of Rights include the following:

1. The right to a safe and clean living environment;
2. The right to be free from physical, verbal, mental and emotional abuse and to be treated at all times with courtesy, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality;
3. The right to adequate and appropriate medical treatment and nursing care and to other ancillary services that comprise necessary and appropriate care consistent with the program for which the resident contract;
4. The right to have all reasonable requests and inquiries responded to promptly;
5. The right to have clothes and bed sheets changed as the need arises, to ensure the residents comfort and sanitation;
6. The right to obtain from the home, upon request, the name and any specialty of any physician or other person responsible for the residents care or for the coordination of care;
7. The right to participate in decisions that affect the residents life, including the right to communicate with the physician and employees of the home in planning the residents treatment or care;
8. The right to confidential treatment of personal and medical records;
9. The right to privacy during medical examinations or treatment and in the case of personal or bodily needs;
10. The right to be free from physical or chemical restraints or prolonged isolation except for the minimum extent necessary to protect the resident from injury to himself;
11. The right upon reasonable request to private and unrestricted communications with his family, social worker and any other person; and
12. The right to have any significant change in their condition or treatment reported to his sponsor.

REMEMBER- THESE RIGHTS CANNOT BE WAIVED

At O'Connor, Acciani & Levy, our Cincinnati personal injury lawyers have extensive experience in protecting the rights of residents of long-term care facilities, group homes, and nursing homes. We have the experience to evaluate and to investigate the circumstances regarding any injuries or neglect or abuse that occurs to a loved one. We have the reputation for pursing these matters zealously to protect all of the rights of our clients and their loved ones. You can call our office for a free consultation and we will be more than happy to sit with you and discuss the circumstances of your particular case.

Call us toll free at (877) 288-3241  for a fre