Assisted Living Resident rights

Learn more about the rights every Resident of an Assisted Living Residence has.

Table of Contents

Resident rights

Every Resident of an Assisted Living Residence has the right to:

  1. Live in a decent, safe, and habitable residential living environment
  2. Be treated with consideration and respect and with due recognition of personal dignity, individuality, and the need for privacy
  3. Privacy within the Resident's Unit subject to rules of the Assisted Living Residence reasonably designed to promote the health, safety and welfare of Residents
  4. Retain and use his or her own personal property, space permitting, in the Resident's living area so as to maintain individuality and personal dignity
  5. Private communications, including receiving and sending unopened correspondence, access to a telephone, and visiting with any person of her or his choice
  6. Freedom to participate in and benefit from community services and activities and to achieve the highest possible level of independence, autonomy, and interaction within the community;
  7. Engage or contract with:

    1. licensed or certified health care providers to get necessary health care services in the Resident's Unit or in another space in the Assisted Living Residence as may be available to Residents to the same extent available to persons residing in their own homes

    2. other necessary care and service providers, including, but not limited to, the pharmacy of the Resident's choice subject to reasonable requirements of the Residence.

  8. Manage his or her own financial affairs, unless the Resident has a Legal Guardian or other court-appointed representative with the authority to manage the Resident's financial affairs
  9. Exercise civil and religious liberties
  10. Present grievances and recommended changes in policies, procedures, and services to the Sponsor, Manager or staff of the Assisted Living Residence, government officials, or any other person without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal. This right includes access to representatives of the Assisted Living Ombudsman program established under M.G.L. c. 19D, § 7, the Elder Protective Services program established under M.G.L. c. 19A, §§ 14 through 26 and the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) established under M.G.L. c. 19C
  11. Upon request, obtain from the Assisted Living Residence, the name of the Service Coordinator or any other persons responsible for his or her care or the coordination of his or her care
  12. Confidentiality of all records and communications to the extent provided by law
  13. Have all reasonable requests responded to promptly and adequately within the capacity of the Assisted Living Residence
  14. Upon request, obtain an explanation of the relationship, if any, of the Residence to any health care facility or educational institution to the extent the relationship relates to his or her care or treatment
  15. Obtain from a person designated by the Residence a copy of any rules or regulations of the Residence which apply to his or her conduct as a Resident
  16. Privacy during medical treatment or other rendering of services within the capacity of the Assisted Living Residence
  17. Informed consent to the extent provided by law
  18. Not be evicted from the Assisted Living Residence except in accordance with the provisions of landlord/tenant law as established by M.G.L. c. 186 or c. 239 including, but not limited to, an eviction notice and utilization of such court proceedings as are required by law
  19. Be free from Restraints
  20. Receive an itemized bill for fees, charges, expenses and other assessments for the provision of Resident services, Personal Care Services, and optional services
  21. Have a written notice of the Residents' Rights published in typeface no smaller than 14 point type posted in a prominent place or places in the Assisted Living Residence where it can be easily seen by all Residents. This notice shall include the address, and telephone number of the EOEA Assisted Living Ombudsman Program, and the telephone number of the Elder Abuse Hotline
  22. Be informed in writing by the Sponsor of the Assisted Living Residence of the community resources available to assist the Resident in the event of an eviction procedure against him or her. Such information shall include the name, address and telephone number of the Assisted Living Ombudsman Program.

Please refer to the Assisted Living Regulations  for further details.

Disclosure of rights

The disclosure statement given by Assisted Living Residences must include a copy of the list of Residents' Rights set forth in 651 CMR 12.08(1).

Please refer to the Assisted Living Regulations  for further details.

Contact   for Assisted Living Resident rights

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