NURSING HOME RESIDENTS BILL OF RIGHTS

The rights of Nursing Home residents are protected under Ohio Law by Sec. 3721.13.  The Rights are summarized below.

Residents have the right to:

1. A safe and clean living environment.
2. Be free from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse and be treated at all times with courtesy, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality.
3. Adequate and appropriate medical treatment, nursing care, and other services to comprise necessary and appropriate care consistent with the program for which the resident contracted without regard to race, color religion, national origin, age, or payment source.
4. Have all reasonable requests and inquiries responded to promptly.
5. Have clothes and bedsheets changed as need arises to insure comfort and sanitation.
6. Obtain name and specialty of any physician or other person responsible for coordinating care­.
7. Select staff physician of choice and select attending physician not on staff if so desired.
8. Communicate with physician and staff in planning the resident's treatment or care. obtain current medical information on status, have access to medical records, and give or withhold informed consent for treatment.
9. Withhold payment to physician, if physician did not visit.
10. Confidential treatment of personal and medical records.
11. Privacy during medical examinations and personal care.
12. Refuse to serve as a research subject.
13. Be free from chemical and physical restraint except under close supervision and written orders of a physician.
14. Obtain pharmacist of choice and pay fair market price for drugs.
15. Exercise all civil rights unless adjudicated incompetent.
16. Have access to opportunities that enable resident, at his expenses, to achieve his fullest potential.
17. Consume alcoholic, beverages unless contradictory to written admission policies.
18. Use tobacco unless contradictory to written admission policies.
19. Retire and rise on own schedule per request as long as this does not disturb others.
20. Observe religious obligations and activities, maintain individual and cultural identity, and participate in social community groups. 
21. Private and unrestricted communications: receive and send sealed, unopened correspondence, access to a telephone and private visits.
22. Privacy for visits by the spouse or share a room if both are residents of the same home.
23. Have room doors closed and not have them opened without knocking.
24. Retain and use personal clothing and a reasonable amount of possessions in a secure manner.
25. Be informed in writing of basic rate charges, services offered by the home and charges for additional services, and receive a 30 day notice of rate changes.
26. Receive and review itemized bills for charges on a monthly basis.
27. Be free from financial exploitation and manage own financial affairs or receive quarterly accounting of financial transactions, if this right is delegated to the home.
28. Unrestricted access to property on deposit at reasonable hours.
29. Reasonable notice, including explanation before room or roommate is changed.
30. Not to be transferred or discharged except for medical reasons, welfare of resident or residents, non-payment or revocation of the home's license or certification.
31. Voice grievances and recommendations free from restraint, reprisal or discrimination. This includes access to Resident’s Rights Advocates.
32. Have significant changes in health status reported to sponsor.