Under Ohio law, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have dozens of rights concerning how they are treated, which must always be with dignity, courtesy, and respect. The Nursing Home Patient Bill of Rights originated in 2018 when Ohioan Jesse J. Ruffin Jr. advocated for “Carolyn’s Law” based on his late wife’s decline while she was a patient in several assisted living facilities, before her untimely death. His objective was to improve the care in Ohio adult facilities.
Many medical professionals and patient advocates blame substandard care for patients’ declining health once they begin residing in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and other care facilities. The fault may lie with the need for more trained workers, leaving those working with older citizens struggling to meet patients’ needs. Regardless, if your loved one resides in a memory care unit or another facility, you should know about patient rights in Toledo nursing homes. Contact our knowledgeable nursing home negligence attorneys at Zoll & Kranz, LLC, to learn more.
What the Numbers Say
The Ohio Health Care Association recently reported that Ohio is home to 950 skilled nursing facilities and 700 assisted living facilities caring for 120,000 people, including those in nursing homes, hospice, and day-based care operations.
A Cleveland Plain Dealer article citing these statistics blames the ratio of trained and licensed caregivers to the vast number of patients, reporting that 40 percent of all Americans die in nursing homes and 65 percent who enter a care facility are likely to pass away within a year. According to the Merck Manual of Patient Care Guide, substandard care leads to:
- Medication errors that can cause additional illness or death
- Bedsores when patients are not turned regularly or are incontinent and not changed regularly
- Falls that break hips and other bones—landing 800,000 patients over 65 years old in the hospital yearly, which often leads to death within 12 months
- Infections including urinary tracts from in-place catheters; if left untended, an infection can spread through the bloodstream leading to sepsis and sometimes death
Patient rights were conceived to counter the problems residents face in Toledo nursing homes. The first two rights mentioned in Ohio Revised Code § 3721.13 entitle residents to a safe and clean environment and to be free of sexual, verbal, mental, emotional, and physical abuse. If a loved one residing in an assisted living facility indicates they are being abused, or a family member suspects substandard treatment because of what they witness, do not hesitate to contact a dedicated elder neglect attorney who advocates for the most fragile citizens.
Additional Rights Conferred to Patients in Nursing Homes
Patients in Toledo assisted care facilities also have the right to quality medical treatment with the physician of their own choosing. In addition, they can expect privacy during examinations and while bathing, clean linens and clothes, and the right to be free of restraints and extended isolation—except in emergencies.
Nursing home residents also have the right to participate in religious services of their choice and any activity that fosters their potential, such as educational or vocational classes. They also have a right to welcome family visitors. These are only a portion of what a resident is entitled to, and any violation of those rights should be met with legal intervention by a skilled nursing facility negligence lawyer.
When Patients Are Not of Sound Mind
Often in memory care units and nursing homes, residents may be unaware they are being exploited, neglected, or abused. The Patient Bill of Rights permits an advocate overseeing the loved one’s care to step in and ensure the resident’s rights are honored.
Discuss Patient Rights in Toledo Nursing Homes with an Attorney
Our most fragile citizens live in nursing homes and other care facilities, including 120,000 in Ohio. If your loved one is among them, you want to ensure they are comfortable, treated with respect, and have their personal and medical needs met. Ohio law agrees, having enacted statutes that protect these citizens.
Even with good intentions, the lack of licensed and trained caregivers remains a problem. The Patient Bill of Rights applies to all residents of Toledo nursing homes and describes how care facilities should treat their residents. When you suspect treatment is lacking for your loved one, contact a compassionate legal professional at Zoll & Kranz, LLC, to discuss patient rights in Toledo nursing homes in more depth.
