October is “Residents’ Rights Month,” an annual event designated by Consumer Voice to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities. Residents’ Rights Month is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the awareness of dignity, respect, and the rightsofeachresident.
This 2019 theme for the month is, “Stand for Quality” – to emphasize the importance of standing for quality in all aspects of residents’ experiences-quality care, quality of life, quality services, and quality choices.
The Ombudsman Program would like people to take this month that offers an excellent opportunity to re-affirm our commitment in the community to resident’s rights and to honor long-term care residents by encouraging people, groups and organizations to participate in nursing home activities, by visiting residents and getting to know them because most of these residents are the living history of our communities.
In 1987, the Nursing Home Reform Law was passed. It guaranteed nursing home residents their individual rights, including but not limited: Respect, dignity; individual care, the right to privacy, the right to visitation, the right to make independent choices and the right to complain.
Basically, the facilities have become the residents’ home which they still maintain their rights as United States citizens. Residents’ Rights Month raises awareness about these rights and pays tribute to the unique contributions of long-term residents.
If you, or someone you know, would like to become a volunteer ombudsman to advocate for quality of life and care, contact Southern Oklahoma Development Association (SODA) Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Supervisors Tiffany Wingfield at 580-775-7478 Rebekah Williams at 580-775-5314 or Senior Info. Line 1-800-211-2116 or write to P.O. Box 709 Durant, OK. 74702.
The Ombudsman Supervisors are available to speak to your group or organization upon request. Flexible training schedules are available.