§6227. Rights of residents

1.  Individual rights.  All residents of continuing care retirement communities have the following rights:

A. The right to self-organize;   [PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

B. The right to be represented by an individual of their own choice;   [PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

C. The right to engage in concerted activities for their own purposes;   [PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

D. The right, individually and severally, to obtain outside advice, consultation and services of their own choosing and at their own expense on any matter, including, but not limited to, medical, legal and financial matters; and   [PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

E. The right to independence, dignity, individuality, privacy, choice and a home-like environment. These rights also include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) A recognition of the resident's rights, responsibilities, needs and preferences;

(2) Assurances that the resident is free to select or refuse services and to accept responsibility for the consequences;

(3) Freedom to develop and maintain social ties with opportunities for meaningful interaction and involvement with the community;

(4) Recognition of personal space and the furnishing and decorating of personal space as private;

(5) Recognition that ensuring a resident's well-being does not violate a resident's civil rights;

(6) Freedom of a resident to set the resident's own schedule, have visitors and leave the facility;

(7) Acknowledgment that a resident is entitled to a "bill of rights" including methods of resolving resident complaints and freedom from abuse, neglect and the use of chemical and physical restraints;

(8) Assurances that methods of preventing and responding to incidents involving injury, loss of property, abuse and neglect will be identified and implemented; and

(9) Recognition of a resident's transfer rights under section 6228.   [PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

The department may adopt reasonable rules further defining the rights contained in this subsection. Nothing in this subsection affects the rights of nursing facility residents or residential care residents as currently provided by state or federal law or regulation.

[PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

2.  Meetings with provider.  A provider must be available for meetings with residents and their representatives at least once every 3 months. These meetings are for the purpose of providing a forum for free and open discussion of any point the residents or the provider wishes to discuss. At least 2 weeks' notice of each meeting must be given to residents.

[PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1995, c. 452, §33 (NEW).