Residents’ Rights in Oklahoma
When people move to a nursing home, they often feel as though they’ve entered a place and situation where they no longer have much control over their lives. That is, a sense of dependency and lost autonomy can set in, leading many nursing home residents to forget one very important fact: They have rights! Rights regarding how they are cared for, the level of care, and many more—all guaranteed by federal and Oklahoma state law. These rights include:
- The right to participate in care planning and to refuse certain treatments
- The right to have one’s own physician and choice of pharmacy
- The right to personal privacy
- The right to wear one’s own clothing and use personal possessions
- The right to manage personal finances
- The right to privacy about one’s medical records
- The right to have visitors, and be left alone with them
- The right to be treated with dignity and respect
- The right to refuse the use of restraints
- The right to receive information about nursing home policies and procedures
- The right to be informed about any and all medical conditions and treatments
- The right to know exactly what services the facility provides
- The right to know the precise cost of any service provided by the facility in advance
- The right to freedom from abuse of any kind. This includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, neglect, and isolation
- The right to remain at a nursing home as long as payment is on time and the facility is operational (that is, the facility is able to attend to one’s medical and other needs)
- The right to openly discuss the level and quality of care being provided
If you or a loved one is being denied any of these rights, you have the right to seek redress. Contact our Oklahoma nursing home abuse lawyers to learn how we can assist you.
