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Residents’ Rights Month

October 01, 2023 - October 31, 2023

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.

This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme – Amplify Our Voices – emphasizes a community of long-term care residents coming together to make their voices heard. Amplifying your voice means being outspoken about your preferences and choices, and sharing who you are and your experiences. Residents’ voices are the most important at the decision-making table – your story deserves to be told!

“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. The Resident’s Voice Challenge encourages residents to submit essays, poems, artwork, drawings, or videos related to the theme.

Resident's Voice Challenge Entries

Long-term care residents from across the country get creative and reflect on this year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme.

The below video was submitted by residents of Wyoming Assisted Living. The residents are singing a song called “Together We Can,” written by one of the residents. Follow along with the lyrics. A couple of the residents were also interviewed at the end of the video.

Watch the video by residents of Darway Nursing Center. The residents are holding signs that say, “We have residents’ rights!”

Watch the video by residents of Darway Nursing Center. The residents are holding signs that say, “We have residents’ rights!”

The below video features residents Tim and Bob from Western Kentucky Veteran’s Center as they sing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Neenah O.

Madisonville, KY

William S., Claude M., and Michael D.

Residents Assisted Living

Idaho

Penelope S.

View Essay

Darleen G.

Wyoming
View Letter

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

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

Resources

Residents’ Rights Fact Sheet

 

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Staying Engaged: Amplify Your Voice – 2023 Enrichment Booklet

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Put a STOP to Poor Care

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6 Steps for Getting Quality Care

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Communication Tips Fact Sheet

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My Personal Directions for Quality Living

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Advocacy Suggestions for Residents and Families

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Starting a Resident Council

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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
  • Staying Engaged Enrichment Booklet

    $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.

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.

Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission

The Executive Director and the Chair of the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission wrote an article on Residents’ Rights Month.

Resources available to long-term care residents.

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

PSA from Ohio

The Ohio State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program will be issuing a statewide press release and creating a template for the regional ombudsman programs to use, submitting an op-ed letter from the state office and creating a template for the regional ombudsman programs to customize, distributing RRM posters for ombudsmen to share with facilities and their communities, and will be releasing a PSA from the SLTCO, Jacqueline DeGenova, highlighting RRM and the work of the Ombudsman program.

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.

Video Highlighting Residents’ Rights

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

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Residents’ Rights Month, and the program’s focus

The Minnesota State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program released a press release about Residents’ Rights Month, and the program’s focus on finding Certified Ombudsman Volunteers.