National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated by National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities and those receiving care in their home or community. This year's Residents' Rights Month theme, “The Power of My Voice”, emphasizes self-empowerment and recognizes the power of residents being vocal about their interests, personal growth, and right to live full, enriching lives. To honor this month’s theme, Consumer Voice is hosting a Resident's Voice Challenge which encourages residents to submit essays, poems, artwork, drawings, or videos related to the theme.

This fact sheet from the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, Residents’ Rights and the LGBTQ+ Community: Know Your Rights as a Nursing Home Resident, highlights federal residents' rights and nursing home requirements pertaining to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) residents. The factsheet also provides options for complaint resolution, information for reporting abuse and resources regarding long-term care and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted long-standing issues of understaffing and insufficient care delivery in nursing homes. On February 28, 2022, the Biden Administration announced it would be implementing a minimum staffing standard for nursing homes and increasing scrutiny on corporate owned nursing homes. This report analyzes federal data regarding nursing home staffing levels and how it effects residents' outcomes.

This guide is designed to provide elder law attorneys with a better understanding of the HCBS Settings Rule and how they can advocate for a strong, effective system that achieves the spirit and intent of the rule. The guide includes an overview of the rule, a process for states to comply with the HCBS Rule, opportunities for advocacy to promote your clients' best interests, and a review of special issues including dementia care and evictions.