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"All
residents are guaranteed certain rights associated with their
long-term care. Those rights include the right to safety, to
privacy, to participate in their own care, to manage their own money
and the freedom of choice," said Gov. Blagojevich. "During
Residents' Rights Week, we hope to raise awareness about these
rights and our state programs designed to protect those rights."
The
Illinois Department on Aging
administers the Illinois Long Term Care Ombudsman program, a
resident-centered advocacy program that protects and improves the
quality of care and quality of life for residents of long-term care
facilities. The program trains staff and volunteers to educate
residents and families about residents' rights and minimum standards
and to resolve complaints reported to the program.
Under the federal Older Americans
Act, every state is required to have an ombudsman program that
addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long-term
care system, including choice of care, respect, dignity, the right
to vote, the right to visitation, the right to privacy, the right to
complain and the right to make independent choices.
"This year's theme, 'Spotlight on
Quality: Focus on Residents' Rights,' reaffirms the simple fact that
residents of long-term facilities have rights, the same basic rights
that you and me have who still live in the comforts of our own
home," said Charles Johnson, director of the Department on Aging.
"Our department is committed to supporting the rights of nursing
home residents by working every day to assure that every older
person in this state is treated with respect and dignity. These
basic rights should not be affected or diminished because of our
place of residence."
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article]
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The governor's proclamation reads as
follows:
WHEREAS, according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, there are
over 1.5 million Illinois citizens over the age of 65; and
WHEREAS, there are approximately 100,000 senior citizens
living in long-term-care facilities throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, in 1973, the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program was
created as part of the Illinois Act on Aging, and the U.S. Older
Americans Act. This Program seeks to protect and promote the
rights of residents of long-term-care facilities, as well as
improve their quality of life within those facilities; and
WHEREAS, this program ensures that long-term-care residents
have the right to safety and privacy, participation in their own
care, manage their own money, and the right to apply for
Medicare and Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department on Aging encourages seniors
to know their rights as residents of long-term-care facilities
to help ensure that they are not abused or neglected:
THEREFORE, I, Rod Blagojevich, Governor of the State of
Illinois, do hereby proclaim October 3-9, 2004 as RESIDENTS'
RIGHTS WEEK in Illinois, and encourage all citizens to be
aware of the many different issues facing the senior citizens of
this state.
[News release from the
governor's office]
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