Residents’ Rights Month

In the event you are a resident of one of South Carolina’s long-term health care facilities, you are there with rights afforded to patients.  This is national Residents’ Rights Month; in South Carolina, the governor has issued a proclamation stressing the importance of residents of long-term care facilities maintaining dignity and autonomy.  South Carolina DHEC regulates nearly 200 nursing homes and more than 450 community residential care facilities (commonly known as assisted living facilities).  The South Carolina Resident’s Bill of Rights details residents’ rights to medical treatment, personal possessions, personal treatment, communication and personal privacy.  There’s an annual requirement for facilities to educate staff on residents’ rights.  Complaints against a nursing home or community residential care facility can be found online via the DHEC website.