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Residents’ Rights Month

October 01, 2022 - October 31, 2022

About Residents’ Rights Month

October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated by Consumer Voice to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities and those receiving care in their home or community. It is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the dignity and rights of every individual receiving long-term services and supports.

Being a part of a community is essential to our well-being.  Throughout the pandemic, residents of long-term care facilities were disconnected from the resident and staff communities within their facilities when activities and group dining were limited.  Residents were disconnected from the broader local community when visitation was restricted and many residents were unable to leave their facilities to participate in outside activities.  This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme – Inspiring Unity within Our Community – emphasizes the importance of fostering meaningful community within the facility and encouraging residents’ connection to their local community.

“I am trying to help by speaking out so that someone quiet and afraid will be spoken for.”
- Debbie, nursing home resident

Resident's Voice Challenge

Creative writing and artistic expression are meaningful and compelling ways to highlight the importance of residents’ rights and how these rights can be carried out in all long-term care settings. For the Resident’s Voice Challenge, residents are encouraged to submit essays, poems, artwork, drawings, or videos related to the theme.

Deadline extended – Entries are now due Friday, September 9.

Community Poster Contest

This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of fostering a meaningful community within the facility and encouraging residents’ connection to their local community. As part of the Resident’s Voice Challenge, we are inviting groups of residents to create a shared poster reflecting this year’s theme.

  • Groups of two or more residents create a poster that reflects what community means to them or how they create a community.
  • Types of artwork submissions: original drawings, paintings, sketches, or other collaboratively-created pieces of art.
  • Submissions must be produced by long-term care consumers.
  • We will select one or more pieces to print.
  • Residents will be notified if their artwork has been selected. Residents whose artwork is selected will receive complimentary posters.

*If a resident appears in a photo with their artwork, they must sign a photo release form.

Alternatively, individual residents or groups of residents can respond to the Resident’s Voice Challenge in writing (essays, poems, word collages), audio (songs or spoken word), photos, video, or artwork. Answer one or more of the following questions:

  • What does it mean to be a part of a community? Why is it important to be a part of a community?
  • How can a community be created within a nursing home or long-term care facility?
  • Why is it important to stay connected to your local community? What are the challenges of staying connected to your local community?
  • What is your favorite memory growing up in your community?

How to Submit

Email submissions to info@theconsumervoice.org.

  • For posters or other artwork: Take a high-resolution photo of your artwork and email the JPG or PNG file as an attachment to info@theconsumervoice.org. Do not send images in the body of the email, as the file is sometimes compressed. Is your file too large to email? Let us know at info@theconsumervoice.org, and we can arrange the transfer of large files.

Mail submissions to our address:

  • Consumer Voice
    Attn: Resident’s Voice Challenge
    1025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1000
    Washington, DC 20036

2023 Residents' Rights Month
Promotional Materials

Use these materials to promote Residents’ Rights Month in your community.

History of Residents’ Rights Month

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Reasons Why Ombudsmen Should Participate

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Reasons Facilities Should Participate

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Sample Ombudsman Newsletter Article

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Sample Letter to the Editor

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Sample Press Release

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Logo Usage Guideline

DOWNLOAD LOGO

We encourage wide promotion of Residents’ Rights Month. Please read our logo usage policy before using our logo.

Residents' Rights Resources

Inspiring Community Engagement with Long-Term Care Facilities

 

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Culture Change in Long-Term Care Facilities

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Residents’ Rights Fact Sheet

 

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6 Steps for Getting Quality Care in a Nursing Home

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Products

Shop products for long-term care consumers and materials highlighting the importance of residents’ rights.

  • 2025 Staying Engaged Enrichment Booklet

    $10.00
  • Please Knock Door Hangers (Set of 100)

    $35.00
  • I Love Residents’ Rights Pencil Pouch

    $8.00
SHOP CONSUMER VOICE STORE

News & Events

Ohio Governor Proclamation

The Governor of Ohio signed a proclamation declaring October to be Residents’ Rights Month.

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Enrichment Packet and Materials from Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program created an introductory letter for its regional programs, a PowerPoint presentation on Residents’ Rights, and a 10-page enrichment packet for residents that regional programs can customize with their contact information.

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Video Highlighting Residents’ Rights

The Howard County, Maryland Ombudsman program created a short video highlighting residents’ rights.

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PSA from Ohio

The Ohio Ombudsman program will be issuing a press release and template for the regional ombudsman programs to use, submitting an op-ed letter and template, distributing RRM posters, and will be releasing a PSA from the SLTCO, highlighting RRM and the work of the Ombudsman program.

WATCH →

Article in Oklahoma Newspaper

An article was published in Oklahoma’s Enid News & Eagle on Residents’ Rights Month and the resources available to long-term care residents.

READ →

Social Media Feed

A nursing home, assisted living, or other long-term care facility should have a comprehensive emergency plan in place just like a family should, so that people can be protected and supported in times of crisis. A nursing home, by federal law, is required to have evacuation plans in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Read our fact sheet for questions to ask or to discuss with the facility: theconsumervoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/emergency-preparedness-factsheet-final-june.pdf ... See MoreSee Less
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Why does the Older Americans Act (OAA) matter? Since 1965, OAA has helped millions of older adults #StayHealthy and maintain their independence. OAA services include: ✅Senior center programs ✅Home- and community-based health care to help people age in place ✅Protections against elder abuse and elder fraud ✅ Rules and regulations for nursing homes ✅ And much more! Educate your members of Congress about the value of the OAA and encourage them to strengthen OAA funding: bit.ly/4cETCHu ... See MoreSee Less
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Involuntary and inappropriate discharges from nursing homes have long plagued nursing home residents and their families. Residents are often uprooted from nursing facilities (their homes) and forced into new living situations that can be unsafe and life-threatening. Join Consumer Voice on Wednesday, July 23rd at 2pm ET for a virtual screening of Involuntary, a short film that documents the devastating impact inappropriate and illegal discharges can have on nursing home residents. We'll be joined by the film's Directors Dana White and Chris Knoblock for a discussion after the screening. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wDoHQ6eGSQ6k75BUtOGuRw#/registration ... See MoreSee Less
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A new episode of the "Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care" podcast is now available on the Nursing Home Reform Act.Nearly 40 years ago, after repeated reports, articles, and studies highlighting dismal conditions in nursing homes, Congress passed the comprehensive Nursing Home Reform Act, raising the standard of care and expectations for residents of nursing homes across the country. While we are still advocating for the promise of the law to be experienced by all residents, the importance of implementing the provisions is as necessary today as they were when the law was passed. Listen to our discussion about the passage of the Nursing Home Reform Act, its critical provisions, and what additional advocacy is needed to realize its full promise for all residents.Listen on:>Spotify: bit.ly/4lM6m3s>Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/3Ij4bFW>SoundCloud: on.soundcloud.com/9WrDVR2U86rWQNTD1a>YouTube: youtu.be/NR7JrwoscQQ>Website: theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality ... See MoreSee Less
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Residents of long-term care facilities - there's still time to participate in this year's Resident's Voice Challenge. Your entry could be featured in a book! theconsumervoice.org/2025-residents-rights-month/#challenge ... See MoreSee Less
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