Your Rights as a Resident of St. Barnabas

Each resident has at least the following rights:

• To privacy in treatment and personal care.
• To privacy, if married, for visits by his/her spouse.
• The share a room with his/her spouse.
• To be different in order to promote social, religious, and psychological well-being.
• To privately talk and/or meet with and see anyone.
• To send and receive mail promptly and unopened.
• To be free from mental and physical abuse.
• To be free from chemical and physical restraints.
• To meet with members of and take part in activities of social, commercial, religious, and community groups.
• To form and attend resident council meetings.
• To retain and use personal clothing and possessions as space permits.
• To be free from being required by the facility to work or perform services.
• To be fully informed by a physician of his/her health and medical condition. The facility shall give the resident and family the opportunity to participate in the planning of the patient's care plan and medical treatment.
• To refuse treatment.
• To refuse experimental treatment and drugs. The resident's written consent must be obtained and retained in his/her medical record from any resident who agrees to participate in research.
• To have record kept confidential and private.
• To manage his/her own financial affairs.
• To be told in writing before or at the time of admission about services available in the facility and about extra charges, charges for services not covered under Medicare or Medicaid, or not included in the facility's bill.
• To be free from involuntary transfer or discharge, except for these reasons:
  (1)   Medical reasons
  (2)   His/her welfare or that of the other residents.
  (3)   Nonpayment, except as prohibited by the Medicaid program.
• To voice grievances and complaints, and to recommend changes in policies and services to the facility, staff, or outside representatives of the resident's choice. The facility shall establish a grievance procedure and fully inform resident and family of same.
• To be free from discrimination because of the exercise of the right to speak and voice complaints.
• To exercise his/her own independent judgment by executing any documents, including admission forms.

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