Have you ever noticed that your rights are not being exercised correctly in a care home because you are unaware of them? Many of our elderly folks are afraid to go to nursing facilities because of numerous elder abuse situations, making them frightened of living there. Dying alone is a fear that no older adult wishes to endure.
It’s essential to pay attention to your elderly and provide them with a decent nursing environment to be treated well and have complete freedom. However, knowing your rights as a resident is essential because if you don’t know your rights, you won’t live joyfully with justice. You can call the finest West Palm Beach elder abuse lawyer for legal advice if you see any mishaps or disturbances at the nursing home. If something is incorrect, you can file a lawsuit against them to compensate for your loss and have them pay hefty penalties.
However, you must first learn about your rights, which we will detail below.
Residents’ Rights in Nursing Homes
The government safeguards the rights of the elderly and controls nursing home employees where Medicare funding is utilized correctly. Two statutes for the treatment of nursing home patients were passed in 1980 and 1987, respectively, under the supervision of highly experienced lawyers. The first is the “Civil Rights of Institutionalised Persons Act,” and the second is the “Nursing Home Reform Act,” which strongly safeguards older people’s right to decent health care. Take a look at the specific rights we covered below.
The right to privacy
You have the right to keep your belongings wherever you desire. Without your consent, no one may enter your wardrobe, drawers, or other areas where your personal belongings are stored. When talking with family or friends, no one can hear what you’re saying. If someone is infringing on your rights, you can seek legal counsel and sue them. The nursing staff has no right to bother you while bathing or using the toilet unless you ask for their assistance. Your request for privacy will never be revoked.
The power to use money
Residents of the nursing home have the right to spend their money anytime they wish, without asking anyone. It is referred to as a pecuniary situation. People frequently inquire, “Why do we need to spend money on a nursing home?” Many activities are not included in nursing home expenses, such as buying a gift for your relatives or if you want to subscribe to a newspaper. You have to buy such a thing on your own. The moral of this right is that your money is yours. Nobody gets in the way of your spending.
The right to make visits to your friends
Most individuals believe that transferring to a nursing home means being isolated for an extended period and unable to visit friends or family members. But all of this is based on your assumptions. The law of senior nursing homes preserves your freedom to visit friends and relatives without having to ask anyone in the nursing home. Your loved ones are also welcome to come in during visiting hours at any time. There are no restrictions on family members; it is entirely up to you who you want to meet, whether a friend or close relative, a lawyer or a priest; the list goes on for several. There is no reason to be concerned about your company’s involvement in nursing home care.
The right to request assistance from personnel without negligence
Living in a nursing care home demonstrates that you are old enough but require assistance. You don’t have to give up your dignity. If you need help changing your clothes, you have the right to do so, even if your hands are trembling while eating. It is your right to request that a staff member serve you correctly without mocking, criticizing, or even putting you down.
They assist you with your self-esteem. The law puts an end to the abuse in a way that respects your dignity as an individual while avoiding humiliation. Every individual has the right to spend their lives with their heads held high, and relocating to a nursing home does not deprive you of this freedom.
Final words
You cannot be abused if you know about nursing home patients’ four most fundamental rights. The government of the United States has defended the rights of senior persons not just because they are perceived to be weak but also to prevent the escalating abuse of the elderly. If you have experienced anything that violates your rights in a nursing home, you should seek help from one of the most vigorous West Palm Beach elder abuse lawyer who are always available to guide you through the thick and thin of nursing home abuse and are the only ones who can get you out of the traumatic situation of elderly abuse.
