October 2020 is Residents Rights Month

Residents’ Rights Month is an annual event designated by the Consumer Voice and is celebrated in October to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities and consumers receiving services in their home or community. It is a time for celebration and recognition offering an opportunity for every facility to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect and the value of each individual resident.

This year's theme is “Connection Matters.” The theme emphasizes connections – to family, friends, and the community – as essential components of good health and quality of life for residents.  The months of restrictions on visitation in long-term care facilities and the inability of residents, families, and friends to be together during the coronavirus pandemic has emphasized the importance of connection, of relationships, and the impact they have on all of our well-being.   During this crisis, many creative ways of staying connected were shared that can be replicated and built upon in all communities.

With limitations on in-person visits, residents, families, facility staff, Ombudsman programs, and other advocates have gotten creative in how they are staying connected. Creating and maintaining connections – to family and friends, to members of the larger community, to other residents and facility staff and even to nature – is an essential component of good health and quality of life for residents.
To view the outstanding entries to this years Resident’s Voice Challenge please see this link:  https://theconsumervoice.org/misc/2020-rv-entries/

This ombudsman is quite proud to say that there are several entries from the Pennyrile District this year.  For more information about Resident Rights or complaints contact Cindy Tabor, Long Term Care Ombudsman, at 270-886-9484 or [email protected]