Resident
Rights Equals Activities
By
Cathy Richards-Rivers, ADC NCCAP Secretary
The
Right to participate in Activities of their choice .
. . does that mean if a resident prefers to pursue independent
leisure interests in their room and doesn't attend or
chooses not to be involved in the events scheduled on
the (group) calendar he or she may do so?
Q-
What if the resident's family "wants" them
to "get involved" (and they are the "responsible
party"?)
A-
If the resident has not been declared "incompetent"
and if the responsible party is not a "legal guardian"
then the resident has the right to participate in activities
of their choice.
The
Right to Vote (and participate in community activities)
. . . does this mean ALL residents should receive ballots
or go to the polling place?
Q-
Who is responsible for assisting residents to exercise
their legal right/responsibility to vote?
A-
Federal regulations require the facility to uphold ALL
Resident Rights. In most facilities the Activities (department)
Director is held responsible for assisting residents
with the right to vote.
The
Right to be treated with dignity and respect . . .does
that mean residents with cognitive impairments can be
offered programs that are less challenging?
Q-
Are the interventions or groups that are on you calendar
promoting dignity and respect for ALL residents (especially
cognitively impaired)?
A-
F248 mandates that the program must meet the psycho-
social well being (needs) of ALL residents and must
be physically, socially, spiritually, and mentally stimulating
(offering programs that promote dignity as well as respect).
The
Right to participate in their plan of care . . .does
this mean the activities plan of care?
Q-
Do you develop an individual plan of care for each resident
that includes their individual or group plan (according
to their interests)?
A-
Federal regulations require that an individual plan
must be developed from the individual interests, needs,
and abilities (obtained from the assessment) and residents
have the right to participate in their plan of care
The Right to present grievances and recommend changes
to facility staff, ombudsman, or any other persons and
to be free from reprisal…does that mean changes
or grievances with activities?
Q-
Does your Resident Council recommend changes to their
activity program (or are they concerned with offending
the activity department/director?)
A-
Federal regulations require that the (in most facilities)
Activities Director is responsible for assisting the
residents in organizing a group meeting and that they
have the right to present grievances and recommend changes
(including the activities program.)
These
are just 5 of the 18 federally mandated Resident Rights
that we are ALL responsible for upholding and promoting
as resident advocates.
I
would like to challenge YOU to review ALL the Resident
Rights and reflect on your Activities Department's role
and responsibility in those rights.
Promoting
Resident Rights try:
- Announcing a Resident Right every morning with the
morning announcements.
- Discuss and explain a Resident Right at each council
meeting.
- Resident Rights Bingo
- Assist the social worker in the Annual Resident Rights
Inservice.
RESIDENT RIGHTS EQUALS ACTIVITIES
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