What should residents do if they believe their rights have been violated in a nursing home?

When residents believe their rights have been violated in a nursing home, it is essential for them to take formal action to address the issue. Filing a complaint with the state’s regulatory agency serves as an official means to report the violation, prompting an investigation and potential intervention if necessary. This process not only helps the individual resident but can also lead to necessary systemic changes for the entire facility, ensuring that resident rights are upheld.

While communicating with family members, informing nursing staff, or waiting for a scheduled review may seem like reasonable steps, these actions might not provide the prompt or formal resolution that filing a complaint with the regulatory agency would. Family members may offer support but do not have the authority to address institutional violations. Informing nursing staff could lead to a resolution, but it may not prompt the necessary oversight from an external authority, and waiting for a scheduled review could delay action when immediate attention is required. Hence, the most responsible and effective course of action is to utilize the complaint filing process with the regulatory agency.