State and Federal law provides for the protection of Residents’ Rights for individuals residing in licensed long term care facilities.

Residents’ Rights cover all aspects of your stay from admission, to living in the facility, and discharge. Residents’ Rights enable the resident and/or their responsible party to be included in making decisions in all aspects of life in a facility.

To obtain a copy of Residents’ Rights, please call Ombudsman Services at (925) 685-2070

One of the fundamental rights of a resident concerns the care plan. A care plan is the “blueprint” that directs staff regarding your health care, social and emotional needs. Skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities are required to have a care plan for each resident.

The plan should address both needs and personal preferences. For example, the care plan should cover how often you would like to be bathed, your dietary preferences, your health needs and treatment plans, what kinds of activities you like and what time you like to rise and retire.

A care plan meeting should be held on a regularly scheduled basis. However, you do have the right to call a care plan meeting to discuss needs that are not being met, changes you would like to make or to obtain additional information regarding health care or treatment You have the right to invite whomever you want to attend including your doctor, family, friends and the Ombudsman.

There are four legal grounds for transfer or discharge:

1. Your needs cannot be met by the facility.
2. You endanger the health or safety of yourself or others at the facility.
3. You have failed to make payment for your care.
4. The facility is closing.

These are just two examples of the fundamental rights of residents living in licensed long term care facilities.

The Ombudsman is specially trained to help residents and their families understand their rights and to advocate on behalf of residents and their families.

Please call us at (925) 685-2070 to obtain more information about Residents’ Rights or to obtain assistance.