Rights of Nursing Home Patients
What specific rights are guaranteed nursing home patients by law?
Rights of Nursing Home Patients
The list of rights is long. A few include:
* Nursing home residents have the right to see family members, ombudspersons or other resident advocates, physicians, service providers, and representatives of the state and federal government.
* Residents may keep and use their personal possessions and clothing unless doing so would endanger health and safety.
* Residents have the right to apply for and receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits and cannot be asked to leave a home because they receive such benefits.
* A nursing home must treat all individuals the same, regardless of whether they are private payers or Medicaid recipients.
* Residents have the right to keep their clinical and personal records confidential.
* Nursing home residents have the right to choose their own personal physician.
