Nursing Home Residents' Rights

In addition to your civil rights as a citizen, you have rights as a nursing facility resident, including the right:

• To be treated with respect and dignity, free from abuse and neglect
• To be informed of your rights and responsibilities as a consumer
• To make decisions about your care and finances
• To privacy in your personal matters, visits, and mail
• To participate in social and religious activities of your choice
• To make a complaint without fear of punishment or retaliation

To learn more about your rights ask the facility for a copy of the Resident's Bill of Rights.

How to Resolve a Problem

If you have a complaint or problem, or you think your rights have been violated, you may want to:

• Clarify the problem. When did it happen? Who else is aware of the problem? Writing it down may help.
• Attempt to resolve the problem. The nursing facility has a grievance procedure for handling complaints that you can follow to resolve the problem.
• Identify the right person to approach with your concern. This may be the Administrator, the Director of Nursing, your doctor, the social worker, or the Charge Nurse. Remember, in order to solve a problem, all parties must first be aware that a problem exists.
• When bringing your concern to a staff person, state the problem and discuss possible solutions. Be clear about what would help. Find out when and how you can expect the problem to be solved. Set a time when you will return to discuss progress.

If the Problem Remains Unresolved

If the problem cannot be resolved within the facility, you may wish to contact:

Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman
Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
530 E. Main Street, Suite 800
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804)644-2804
1-800-938-8885

If you suspect fraud by a Medicaid Provider, contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Attorney General
900 E. Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804)786-2071

If you have concerns about nursing home care which is covered by Medicare, contact:
Virginia Health Quality Center
4510 Cox Rd. Suite 400
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Main Office:804-289-5320

Medicare Contact Telephone Numbers:

• MEDICARE INFORMATION: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• BENEFICIARY HELPLINE: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• PROVIDER HELPLINE:1-800-854-5244 or 1-804-289-5303

For concerns about abuse, neglect, or the misappropriation of resident property, you may also call your local Department of Social Services, Adult Protective Services or 1-888-832-3858.

Code of Virginia

To read residents' rights as described in the Code of Virginia, please link to the following pages:

• Nursing Homes Residents Rights:http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+32.1-138
• Assisted Living Facilities Residents Rights:http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+63.2-1808

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