FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 30, 2003) -- Gov. Paul E. Patton has proclaimed Oct. 5-11 as Residents’ Rights Week in Kentucky to promote respect and dignity for the residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

The week was designated by the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform to highlight the individuality of 2.8 million residents who live in nursing homes, assisted living, and board and care facilities across this nation.

 The theme for the week is "24/7: Residents' Rights Around the Clock."  Throughout the country, residents, family members, ombudsmen, citizen advocates and facility staff will commemorate the week by holding events that recognize and affirm that residents' rights aren't just good ideas, but a way of preserving individual freedoms that should be supported on a daily basis.

            In Kentucky, various events will be held to educate residents about the specific legal rights they have as inhabitants of long-term care facilities.  Ombudsmen believe that individuals who live in long-term care facilities must be given encouragement and help with exercising their rights as a resident and a citizen.  Residents have the right to voice grievances and recommend changes to facility staff without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal. 

Residents in the Bowling Green area are participating in an educational poster contest. The posters will highlight the rights of residents.  During the week, Resident Councils in the area will be given the opportunity to send delegates to a Resident Council Conference on Oct. 7. 

At the Maysville Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility, emphasis will be given to recognition of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s) who help uphold the rights of residents.  This activity is focusing on the CNA’s because they have the most direct contact with residents. Throughout the week, whenever someone (resident, family member, facility administrator, nursing staff or ombudsmen) notes a CNA upholding the rights of a resident, they’ll place a sticker on a badge worn by the CNA.  The CNA’s who receive the most stickers will be recognized. 

            In 1987 the Nursing Home Reform Act was passed guaranteeing individualized care, promotion of quality of life, and residents’ rights to each nursing home resident.  The objective of Residents’ Rights Week is to increase awareness of nursing home residents’ rights and the rights of those in other long-term care facilities.

            The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has worked to promote resident rights and resolve complaints for over 30 years. More than 8,000 volunteers and 1,000 paid staff are advocates for residents in all of the states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Authorized under the Older Americans' Act and administered by the Administration on Aging, the program also provides information on how to find a facility, educational programs, and one-on-one consultation to residents, their families and the public on long-term care.

            Kentucky’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has been in existence since 1978.  The Cabinet for Health Services has recently expanded the Ombudsman Program to include full-time representatives in all of the 15 Area Development Districts in the state.  To learn more about the work of ombudsmen or to volunteer to help improve the life of nursing home residents, call the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, John Sammons, at 1-800-372-2991.

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