This page contains resources and information to help you advocate for quality long-term care. Click on the topic areas below to find more information.
- Residents’ Rights
- Law and Regulations
- Fact Sheets – Residents
- Resident Councils
- Citizen Advocacy Groups
- NCCNHR Projects with Residents
- Be An Advocate
Residents’ Rights
Residents’ Rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law, and nursing homes must meet federal residents’ rights requirements if they participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Visit the links below for consumer information and resources that can help you support an individual resident’s rights or be involved in an important national awareness campaign.
View the Residents’ Rights fact sheet to learn more about the topic.
National Residents’ Rights Week 2009 is October 4-10, 2009: “HEAR OUR VOICE: RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES SPEAK OUT ON RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS.” Residents’ Rights Week is the first full week of October each year. Click on the link above to learn about this and previous years’ events, activities and resident entries.
Law and Regulations
The Nursing Home Reform Law is the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA ’87) was landmark legislation for federal standards for nursing home care. Click on the above link to learn more about OBRA.
Resident Councils
Residents in a facility can join together to form a united consumer voice which can communicate concerns to facility administrators and work for resolutions and improvements by forming a resident council. Visit the Resident Council Center to learn more about resident council rights, regulations applying to long-term care facilities, effective council advocacy, and tools for forming an effective council and more!
Fact Sheets – Residents
Fact sheets are to-the-point summaries on the most common issues facing nursing home residents. Each document answers key, frequently asked questions. View NCCNHR’s fact sheets for residents of nursing homes.
Citizen Advocacy Groups
Citizen advocacy groups (CAGs) are groups of concerned citizens who work to improve the quality of care for nursing home residents in their locality, state, or region. Members of these groups are often people who have had loved ones in nursing homes and are concerned about nursing home residents. The groups share a commitment to improving the quality of care and life for residents who are in need of long-term care. They may be able to inform you about resources in your state, the quality of care in particular facilities, and the current status of nursing home reform in your state. Visit the Citizen Advocacy Group Center to learn more about CAGs, and to find a CAG in your state so that you can connect with others who are interested long-term care reform.
NCCNHR Projects with Residents
Giving Voice to Quality project
Thiis project trained nursing home residents and their families nationwide through teleconference seminars and a web-based consumer education center. Topics addressed include: Resident-Directed Care Planning; Restraint-Free Nursing Home Care; Residents’ Rights; Communication; Eating with Dignity; Incontinence and Quality Care.
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