Bill of Rights Protects from Nursing Home Abuse

Be free from abuse or neglect.

Some workers in nursing homes have been caught treating patients in an abusive manner or neglecting their needs entirely. Under the bill of rights, patients must always have access to their property and family members, and each patient is entitled to freedom from the following types of abuse:

• Verbal
• Sexual
• Physical
• Mental
• Property

Be free from restraints.

Patients should never be physically restrained or be given chemicals or drugs as a way of restraining them. Proper medical care. Because medical care is such an important component of keeping an elderly loved one in good mental and physical health, the list of rights in this section is long. Here are a few highlights from that list:

• Doctors should discuss a patient’s medical care and procedures in language he can understand
• Patients have the right to complain about or disagree with a doctor
• Patients can be involved in choosing a doctor
• Patients can be involved in choosing a course of action or creating advanced directives
• Patients have the right to keep their family or friends involved