Louisville Nursing Home Resident Rights

Whether you’re considering a nursing home for yourself or a family member, or you currently reside in one, knowing these rights can empower you to demand quality care and support. A list of the specific rights of elderly residents is protected on both state and federal levels.

These rights include:

• Right to Dignity and Respect: Every nursing home resident in Kentucky has the right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times. This includes respectful interaction with staff, maintaining their right to privacy, and being free from any type of abuse, be it verbal, mental, emotional, or physical. Residents have the right to feel safe and valued within the care environment, and staff must maintain and protect these standards of care.
• Right to Quality Care: Residents of eldercare facilities have the right to receive quality, professional care at a level that meets their physical, emotional, and medical needs. This includes access to necessary medical treatment, assistance with their daily living activities, management of medications, healthy meals that meet their dietary requirements, and safety from injury or wrongful death. Nursing homes and other care facilities must provide qualified staff and adequately train that staff to provide this care and to support residents’ overall quality of life.
• Right to Privacy and Confidentiality: Maintaining privacy is fundamental for nursing home residents. This right of privacy is also supported by the Nursing Home Reform Act. Residents have the right to private communications, confidentiality of personal information including medical records, and to be allowed to make personal life decisions within the scope of their capabilities. Nursing home staff must respect residents’ privacy at all times, except where necessary for medical or safety reasons, and a legal guardian or family member should always be advised before such steps are implemented.
• Right to Freedom from Restraints: Residents have the right to be free from unnecessary physical or chemical restraints. Any form of restraint should only be used when it is medically necessary and authorized by a physician. Though there are exceptions, studies have shown that, in general, physical restraint is not experienced as something positive. For many, these methods have more of a traumatic than a therapeutic impact. Residents and their families have a right to be informed about the reasons for any restraint use and be involved in decisions related to their care plan.
• Right to Social Interaction and Activities: Social interaction and engagement in meaningful activities are essential to anyone’s well-being, and that doesn’t change as we get older. Nursing homes must provide opportunities to participate in social, recreational, religious, and cultural activities based on the interests and preferences of their residents. These activities have been proven to contribute to mental and emotional health, reducing feelings of isolation and improving overall quality of life.
• Right to Voice Grievances: Residents have the right to voice their grievances over treatment and care issues without fear of retaliation. Facilities are required to have policies and procedures for residents and their families to file concerns or complaints about their care, treatment, or living conditions. Care facilities must investigate and address these grievances promptly and with transparency to ensure that all residents’ concerns are seriously considered and effectively resolved.
• Right to Personal Belongings: Nursing home residents have the right to keep and use any personal belongings that don’t interfere with the rights or health of others. These belongings can include clothing, personal items, and other possessions that contribute to the resident’s comfort and sense of personal identity. Facilities should have clear policies in place that safeguard personal belongings and require that they be respected by staff and other residents.
• Right to Visitors: Residents also have the right to receive visitors or guests at reasonable times throughout the day. Family members, friends, and other advocates are crucial to the well-being of nursing home residents by providing them with social support and monitoring their care. Nursing homes should encourage and facilitate visitors with policies that support residents and their loved ones’ meaningful interactions.
• Right to Make Informed Decisions: Nursing home residents have the right to participate in decisions about their personal care and treatment, including being informed of their medical condition, treatment options, and any changes in their personal care plan. Facilities should encourage residents to be involved in discussions about their health and well-being, and respect residents’ preferences and choices whenever possible.

It’s also important to note that, per state guidelines, “All residents have the right to have private meetings with the appropriate long-term care facility inspectors from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services.”