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I’m tempted to call 2011 “The Year of the Long Term Care Residents.” Perhaps it’s because I am an advocate with the Oklahoma Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and my eyes are open to the issues of senior adult facilities. Or maybe, it’s because I am moving through middle age at the speed of light and foresee my end of life years as a facility resident. Whatever the reason, my work is to ensure that residents of long term care facilities receive quality and dignified care now and in the future.
Many times upon admission into a facility, residents and their family members think freedom of choice has ended. On the contrary, choice is a vital part of the residents’ quality of life and dignified care. The Nursing Home Reform Law requires, “a nursing home to make reasonable adjustments to meet resident needs and preferences.” Therefore, a resident has the right to participate in choosing activities, schedules and health care consistent with his or her interests, assessments, and plans of care (Section 483.15(b)(1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Residents have the right set their own schedule for rising in the morning and going to bed at night; to choose the time they bathe; and to have a choice of favorite food items. Residents may make reasonable requests of change and more enlightened nursing homes understand the benefits of change to both the residents and their staff members.
“Culture change” is an ongoing reformation of nursing homes to establish more “resident centered” care. With its implementation, nursing homes across the country improve resident care and customer satisfaction while also making a profit.
No resident or representative should hesitate to make a request of a nursing home facility. The facility is paid to care for each resident, as is the right of the resident as an individual human being.
For more information about long term care residents’ rights, please call your Ombudsman at the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD) Area Agency on Aging office at 1-800-375-8255, extension 127 for Patti Marshall or 133 for Cynthia Lincoln.
As with every business including long term care facilities, good customer service is just plain good business.
Patti Marshall
Ombudsman Supervisor
COEDD—Area Agency on Aging
I’m tempted to call 2011 “The Year of the Long Term Care Residents.” Perhaps it’s because I am an advocate with the Oklahoma Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and my eyes are open to the issues of senior adult facilities. Or maybe, it’s because I am moving through middle age at the speed of light and foresee my end of life years as a facility resident. Whatever the reason, my work is to ensure that residents of long term care facilities receive quality and dignified care now and in the future.
Many times upon admission into a facility, residents and their family members think freedom of choice has ended. On the contrary, choice is a vital part of the residents’ quality of life and dignified care. The Nursing Home Reform Law requires, “a nursing home to make reasonable adjustments to meet resident needs and preferences.” Therefore, a resident has the right to participate in choosing activities, schedules and health care consistent with his or her interests, assessments, and plans of care (Section 483.15(b)(1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Residents have the right set their own schedule for rising in the morning and going to bed at night; to choose the time they bathe; and to have a choice of favorite food items. Residents may make reasonable requests of change and more enlightened nursing homes understand the benefits of change to both the residents and their staff members.
“Culture change” is an ongoing reformation of nursing homes to establish more “resident centered” care. With its implementation, nursing homes across the country improve resident care and customer satisfaction while also making a profit.
No resident or representative should hesitate to make a request of a nursing home facility. The facility is paid to care for each resident, as is the right of the resident as an individual human being.
For more information about long term care residents’ rights, please call your Ombudsman at the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD) Area Agency on Aging office at 1-800-375-8255, extension 127 for Patti Marshall or 133 for Cynthia Lincoln.
As with every business including long term care facilities, good customer service is just plain good business.
Patti Marshall
Ombudsman Supervisor
COEDD—Area Agency on Aging
