Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to provide information to all nursing home and assisted living residents
Annapolis, MD (October 1, 2021) - The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities will recognize October as Residents’ Rights Month. This is an annual event held each October focused on awareness of dignity, respect, and the value of long-term care residents.
Across the country, residents of nursing homes and assisted living homes, along with family members, ombudsmen, advocates, and others will honor the individual rights of long-term care residents. The theme for Residents' Rights Month 2021 is "Reclaiming My Rights, My Home, My Life", which acknowledges the impact of this past year on residents, and highlights the need for residents’ rights to be recognized, recovered, and reasserted. It emphasizes the recognition of the long-term care facility as the residents’ home, and the importance of residents reclaiming their own lives.
“Our ombudsman program protects the rights of Anne Arundel County residents in assisted living or long-term care facilities, empowering self-determination through education and support,” Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said. "I am proud of the work the Department of Aging and Disabilities Ombudsman Program does in nursing homes and assisted living facilities through our county, and thank their staff for their efforts not just this month, but all year long."
County Executive Pittman proclaimed October as Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month. Raising awareness of federal and state laws pertaining to Residents’ Rights assists in restoring dignity and self-determination of each resident of long-term care. This is a vital function of the Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities.
In Anne Arundel County, there are 15 nursing homes and 127 assisted living homes that provide housing and services to nearly 4,300 residents. The staff of the Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program visit all of these homes multiple times a year to advocate for quality of life and care of the residents, investigate complaints, and ensure that individuals understand their rights. Authorized under the federal Older Americans Act, the program also provides information on how to find a facility, conducts community education sessions, and supports residents, their families, and the public with individual consultation regarding long-term care.
“Residents in long-term care facilities have the right to be treated with honor and respect at all times. We celebrate this month to bring awareness and advocacy to residents, especially during this past year," said Karrisa Kelly, Director, Department of Aging and Disabilities. “The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities’ Ombudsman Program continues to support all residents through protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of all.”
Throughout the month of October, the Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will be talking to residents of nursing homes and assisted living homes about their rights and providing information to spread the word that residents of long-term care have many rights as citizens. All residents in nursing homes and assisted living homes maintain their rights as U.S. citizens according to the Constitution of the United States of America. Residents’ Rights Month also raises awareness of these rights and pays tribute to the unique contributions of long-term care residents to our community.
For more information, contact the Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities, 410-222-4257. TTY users, please call via Maryland relay 7-1-1. All materials are available in alternative formats upon request.