Reflect on your priority policy OR advocacy issue in long-term care
Post at least three times to this discussion forum, following the guidelines below. Your posts should include responses to any questions asked, as well as replies to classmates.
1. For your initial post, reflect on your priority policy OR advocacy issue in long-term care used for the final paper assignment and provide a summary with appropriate resources/citations with your classmates for your initial post.
2. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ initial posts providing feedback and support for their priority policy or advocacy issues in long-term care. Share some resources for them and your perception of the role of the leader related to their priority issues.
Student 1:
Hello Class,
The advocacy issue presented in my final papers raises concerns and support for: The rights of long-term care residents. Hence the call for education of LTC residents about their rights and this should draw the attention of all Americans. Most residents of LTC facilities do not know that they have rights as the ordinary American citizens. Unknowingly, they relegate themselves to second class citizenship and do believe that their admission to the LTC has led to their loss of rights as United Citizen citizens. This is certainly not the case. And as I researched and authored in my final paper, titled, “Rights of Long-term Care Residents,” they are protected by state and federal laws and are entitled to rights as their fellow American citizens.
Ackerman (2010) explained that the American Constitution sets forth rights which protects all citizens, including those living in LTC facilities. Folks that live in these homes do not and shouldn’t lose their rights for their safety and care. The rights are enshrined in:
Federal Nursing Home Reform Laws of 1987
Medicare and Medicaid Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities of 1991
Title XX of the Social Security Act
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Older American Act
State regulations, which may be different per state
Additionally, Federal laws, regulations, and enactments advocate for more LTC resident’s right.
Furthermore, Branny (2016) lists specific rights for the residents of LTC facilities and Nursing Homes which include but not limited to:
The Rights as American citizen. LTC residents are American citizens, protected by US constitution and the Amendments. Including right to vote, own properties, speak up, and provide protection, and even share room with spouse. The amendments were written to protect the rights of all citizens of the United States of America, especially to live free from interference of other citizens, organizations, institutions, and the government of the Republic.
Right to Proper Health Care. LTC residents must have choice of who their healthcare providers are in relations to the physicians, nurses, aides, and the type of medication and dosages whether prescribed, over the counter, or supplements.
Right to Refuse Care. LTC facilities cannot make a resident do against their will. This right respects the resident’s decision to refuse medications, the right to refuse a diet, the right to refuse medical treatment, refuse doctor’s orders, the right to refuse to take a bath or shower, and the right to refuse anything that affects their, decisions, preferences, choices, determinations, and volitions.
Right to Access. LTC should not be denied access to services because they reside there. This right includes personal properties, visitors, legal guidance, and family.
The Right to Privacy. Unauthorized access, secrecy, and respect are the hallmarks of this right. Covered under privacy are right to have private conversation that should not be overheard by staff or other residents of the LTC, closed doors and/or curtains, right to receive unopened mail, right to privacy when receiving medical and dental treatments.
Right to Information. Residents have the right to know the information about the LTC facilities at which they reside especially written, video, or verbal. LTC residents have the right to know what’s happening in their surrounds such as news, newspapers, sports, and the government.
Right to Social Services. This includes right to receiving counselling, intervention with matters pertaining to family, business, or LTC.
Answer preview Reflect on your priority policy OR advocacy issue in long-term care
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