Consumer Center
Resources and guidance for long-term care consumers regarding your rights and steps you can take to advocate for change.
Advocating for Rights and Better Care in Nursing Homes
As a nursing home resident, you have the right to quality, person-centered care. This resource provides action steps you can take to change the situation within your facility and advocate for broader change outside of your facility.
Nursing Home Residents’ Rights
Residents of nursing homes have rights that are guaranteed by the federal Nursing Home Reform Law. The law requires nursing homes to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and stresses individual dignity and self-determination. Many states also include residents’ rights in state law or regulation.
Browse Consumer Resources
The consumer perspective informs our policy priorities, development of resources, and advocacy in long-term care. Explore information, tools, and materials available to long-term care consumers.
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Getting Quality Care
Getting quality care requires collaboration between residents and providers to ensure care is effective, safe, and person-centered. This involves resident advocacy, clear communication, shared decision-making, and continuous monitoring of the resident’s needs.
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Residents’ Rights
Residents of nursing homes have rights that are guaranteed by the federal Nursing Home Reform Law. Residents’ rights serve as a framework for promoting the well-being, autonomy, and dignity of individuals receiving long-term care services.
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Finding Long-Term Care
Choosing long-term care is one of the most difficult tasks a family member and their loved one ever faces. These resources can help navigate the options and make an informed choice to ensure that the consumer receives the best possible care and support.
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Filing a Complaint & Getting Help
Too often residents find themselves in situations where their rights are being violated and their needs are not being met. If things go wrong, there are specific actions you can take to advocate for your rights and get help to ensure your concerns are addressed and resolved effectively.
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Long-Term Care Issues You May Face
Long-term care consumers face a range of challenges and concerns. Find resources to understand specific long-term care issues and the strategies to address them.
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Getting Involved
Take initiative and become a proactive advocate by contributing your time, energy, and knowledge to making a positive difference for consumers receiving long-term care. Get involved and be an advocate by speaking up, taking action, and staying connected.
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Resident Council Center
Residents in a nursing home can join a resident council to form a united consumer voice. Resident Councils play a crucial role in voicing concerns, requesting improvements, and supporting new residents. Join the Resident Council at your facility. If no resident council exists, join with other residents to form one.
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Family Council Center
Family members can join together to form a Family Council as a united voice to communicate concerns to facility administrators and work for resolutions and improvements. Join the family council at your loved one’s facility, if no family council exists, join with other family members to form one.
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Listen to Consumer Voices
Consumers from across the country shared with us their experiences living in long-term care. Listen to their stories to hear their personal experiences, perspectives, and narratives.
Tell Your Story
We want to hear from YOU
Tell us about your experience or your loved one’s experience in long-term care. By sharing your story, you help inform our advocacy.
The Resident Advocate Newsletter
The Resident Advocate is a newsletter for residents of long-term care facilities. It provides information on residents’ rights and care issues; news and updates on national policy; and self-advocacy tips for obtaining person-centered, quality care. The newsletter is a great resource to share with long-term care residents. It can also be shared among nursing home staff, long-term care Ombudsman programs, family members, and other advocates.
The newsletter is mailed free of charge to residents. If you are an individual receiving long-term care and would like to have the next issue of The Resident Advocate mailed to you, send your name and address to info@theconsumervoice.org. If you are a nursing facility, long-term care Ombudsman program representative, or other advocate who would like copies, you are welcome to download and print the issues from our webpage.
Join the Consumer Advisory Council
The Consumer Advisory Council is made up of a group of energetic and motivated individuals who receive long-term care services and supports. They come together to voice what they’re experiencing in long-term care right now and share advocacy strategies with each other. Their experiences and insights inform our advocacy. We are always looking for dedicated advocates to join the council of consumers.
