Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Residents’ Rights Month is celebrated in October to honor those living in long-term care settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living, retirement communities, and those who receive supportive services in their home or community. This month provides an opportunity to focus on awareness, dignity, respect, and the overall value of each individual resident and their rights. In addition, we also want to encourage those living in long-term care settings to become self-advocates.
The 2022 theme for the October Residents’ Rights Month is “Inspiring Unity Within Our Community.” This theme emphasizes the necessity of fostering meaningful connections within facilities and promotes residents’ ties to their neighborhood. The ongoing effort to protect residents’ rights is something that AgeGuide has always advocated for through our mission of supporting home and community-based services. However, we acknowledge that the pandemic has exacerbated this issue further. Residents who live in long-term care facilities became disconnected and isolated during the lockdown. In response to that, this year’s theme works to address the need to recognize residents’ dignity and humanity by protecting and re-asserting their rights. We want to embolden residents to build relationships within their community to foster connections.
The Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a valuable resource for older adults that protects and improves the quality of life for residents in any long-term care setting. Ombudsmen resolve problems and look to bring about change at the local, state and national level. Ombudsmen are paid professionals or trained volunteers who regularly visit long-term care facilities to monitor conditions as well as to provide a voice for those older adults who are unable to speak for themselves. Overall, they address violations of residents’ rights, which include abuse, neglect, poor care, isolation, and lack of choices.
To give a voice to older adults on their aging journey and to highlight stories about their lived experiences, AgeGuide created a podcast called, The Age Guide: Perspectives on the Aging Journey. Our initial series shined a light on first-hand stories about what happened during the pandemic behind the closed doors of long-term care facilities.
In honor of Residents’ Rights Month, please take a look at the resources below. Listen to the Age Guide Podcast, check out resources on the Ombudsman program and learn more about the history of this important celebration.
Resources
National Consumer Voice (theconsumervoice.org)
History of Residents’ Rights Month
AgeGuide Nursing Home Advocates Information
The Age Guide Podcast
