KINGSTON – A recent number of complaints and concerns about care of loved ones at nursing homes prompted Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D, Kingston) to publish a brochure outlining the rights and responsibilities of health care facility operators to their residents and patients.
Copies of the pamphlet have been distributed to seniors in Cahill’s 103rd Assembly District and are being offered to area facilities to share with staff, patients, residents and their families.
“When families make the difficult decision to place the care of their loved ones in the hands of licensed professionals, they should be able to trust that they are being given the attention and compassion they deserve,” Cahill said. “New York State has the largest nursing home population in the United States and we need to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to protect this at-risk population from any kind of mistreatment.”
State regulations require nursing homes to have written policies covering the rights of patients. Staff at the facilities must implement those policies and explain them to each individual. The rights include, among other things, dignity, respect and a comfortable living environment; quality of care and treatment without discrimination; freedom of choice to make their own, individual decisions; the safeguard of their property and money; freedom from abuse, neglect and restraints; privacy in communications; participation in organizations and activities of their choice; access to a responsive complaint procedure and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of reprisals.
