Nursing Assistant Monthly Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012 Residents’ rights

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights A special responsibility  Nursing home residents depend on caregivers  Residents can be vulnerable to violation of their rights  CNAs have a special duty to protect residents’ rights

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights What are residents’ rights?  Residents have the same rights they had before they entered the nursing home such as: –The right to exercise their rights as citizens (including the right to vote) –To be free of restraints (physical or chemical) –To be treated with dignity and respect –And many more

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights The underlying theme: dignity and respect  Residents should always be treated respectfully  Speak to residents as adults, not as children  Residents have a right to privacy  When in doubt, simply ask yourself, “How would I want to be treated in this situation?”

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights The right to choose  Residents have the right to make choices about things that affect them –When to get up, when to go to bed –What to wear –When and how to bathe –Which activities to participate in

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights What if you cannot honor a request?  Caring for a group of residents is challenging –Time limitations –Resource limitations (example: not enough staff) –Competing interests (one resident’s wishes conflict with another’s)  Remember the respect rule –Do your best to honor the request –Respectfully explain if you cannot do so at this time –Seek the advice of the nurse if you are unsure how to handle it

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights Dementia and residents’ rights  Confused residents have the same rights as others –However, they may not be able to make decisions –They may become agitated or be unable to understand the situation  Try a “help me” approach –Ask the resident, “Will you help me?”—may gain cooperation –Keep it simple (by offering two choices instead of several) –Seek help from the nurse for handling difficult situations

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights Abuse  Can be intentional or unintentional  Can be physical –Hitting, leaving on the commode for too long, forcing a resident to do something against his or her wishes  Can be verbal –Shouting or criticizing a resident –Using disrespectful language

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights Reporting suspected abuse If you suspect abuse, report it! In some states, it’s the law for health care workers  You do not have to give your name  You do not have to be able to show proof of the abuse  Options for reporting: –Tell your supervisor or director of nurses –Call your state’s nursing home agency –Your state’s elder abuse hotline (some states) –Your state long-term care ombudsman

Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. January 2012Residents’ rights Strive to protect residents’ rights If a problem arises:  Document how you tried to solve it  Get advice from the nurse or an experienced coworker  Follow the Golden Rule—treat others as you would like to be treated—and you can’t go wrong!