Long-Term Care

Knowing the rights of access

LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer, March 24, 2004

Respecting residents' rights is an important part of quality care. Also, the federal government requires all long-term care facilities to have written policies explaining these rights.

While staff must be familiar with every element of your facility's residents' rights policy, it's also important they recognize the key term, "rights of access." The phrase rights of access refers to the following rules:

- Residents may receive any visitor of their choice and may also refuse a visitor permission to enter their room.

- Residents have the right to immediate access to family and reasonable access to others.

- Facilities must post visiting hours, which must total at least eight hours per day.

- Members of community, religious, or legal organizations may enter the facility during visiting hours.

- Communication between residents and visitors is confidential.

As a reminder, occasionally review your facility's policy with CNAs.

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