Elder Law

October Declared Nursing Home Residents Rights Month

By Levin & Perconti

The Consumer Voice, one of the nation?s leading advocacy groups for nursing home residents and their families, recently announced that October will be declared ?Resident?s Rights Month.? The new initiative, expanded from what was previously a week-long effort, will include a month of raising awareness of the needs and rights of nursing home residents across the country.

Many advocates in this state share in the call to speak out about the issue with the goal of honoring senior community members and assisting victims of Illinois nursing home abuse. The Consumer Voice hopes that the celebration will offer opportunities for all nursing home and long-term care facilities to re-commit themselves to honoring the dignity and respect each elderly resident deserves.

Far too often senior residents are forgotten citizens, relegated to an almost invisible life within the walls of their facility. To help residents break out of that cycle this year?s month-long theme is ?Welcome Home: Creating Connections Between Residents and the Community.? It is hoped that individuals outside of the nursing home?resident friends, family, and advocates?will use the opportunity to become more involved with the senior residents at local facilities.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on March 10, 2011 (boomark / email).