Ramah Care Services, Inc.

Persons Served Rights
The Right to INFORMATION
  • The resident has the right to all records, including:
    • Medical Records
    • Contracts
    • Incident Reports
    • Financial Records
  • The request can be oral or written.
  • The record must be available within 24 hours of the request.
  • The agency has 2 working days to provide requested photocopies.
  • The person must be fully informed of his or her total health condition.
  • Information is given in language the person can understand.
  • Interpreters are used for those speaking a language other than English.
  • Sign language or other aids are used for persons with hearing impairments.
  • Residents have a right to information regarding their health care provider(s), including:
    • Provider Name
    • Specialty
    • Contact Information

The Right to REFUSE TREATMENT
  • OBRA defines treatment as care provided to relieve symptoms, improve functional level, maintain or
restore health. A person who does not give consent or refuses treatment cannot be given the
treatment.
  • The agency must find out what the resident is refusing and why.  The agency should try to educate
the person about the treatment, problems from not having the treatment and other treatment
choices.
  • Although the resident may refuse a specific treatment, the agency must provide all other services.
  • Advance directives are part of the right to refuse treatment. They include living wills and other
instructions about life support.
  • The resident has the right to refuse to take part in research.

The Right to PRIVACY
  • The resident's body must not be exposed unnecessarily.
  • Only those workers directly involved in care, treatments, or examinations should be present.  The
resident must give consent for others to be present.
  • A resident has the right to use the bathroom in private.
  • Privacy must be maintained for personal care activities.
  • Residents have the right to visit with others in private.  They have the right to visit an area where
they cannot be seen or heard by others.  The agency must try to provide a private space when it is
requested.  Offices, chapels, dining rooms, meeting rooms, activity rooms and conference rooms can
be used if available.
  • Residents have the right to private telephone conversations.
  • Residents have the right to send and receive mail without interference by others.
  • Letters sent and received by the residents are not opened by others without the resident's
permission.
  • Mail must be delivered to the resident within 24 hours of its delivery to the center.

 The Right to CONFIDENTIALITY
  • Information about the resident's care, treatment, and condition must be kept confidential.
  • Medical and financial records are confidential.
  • The resident must give consent for the release of any record to other agencies or persons.
  • Consent is not needed for the release of medical records when the resident is transferred to
another agency.
  • Consent is not needed to release records as required for legal and insurance purposes.

The Right to FREEDOM FROM ABUSE, MISTREATMENT, AND NEGLECT
  • Residents have the right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical and mental abuse.
  • Residents have the right to be free from neglect and mistreatment.
  • Residents have the right to be free from involuntary seclusion, which includes:
    • Separating the resident from others against his or her will; 
    • Keeping the resident confined to a certain area; 
    • Keeping the resident away from their room without consent.
  • Long-term care centers cannot employ persons who were convicted of abusing, neglecting or
mistreating other individuals.

The Right to FREEDOM FROM RESTRAINTS
  • Residents have the right not to have body movements restricted.
  • Restraints and some drugs restrict body movements. Some drugs restrain the person because they
affect mood, behavior and mental function.
  • A doctor's order is necessary to use restraints.
  • Sometimes residents are restrained to protect them from harming themselves or others.
  • Restraints cannot be used for the convenience of the staff or to discipline a resident.

The Right to QUALITY OF LIFE
  • Residents must be cared for in a manner that promotes dignity, self-worth, and physical,
psychological and emotional well-being.
  • Personal choice, privacy, participation in group activities, having personal property, and freedom
from resident show respect for the person.
  • The resident is spoken to in a polite and courteous manner.
  • Good, honest, and thoughtful care enhances the resident's quality of life.
  • Residents have a right to dignity and privacy. These actions are required by OBRA.
  • Long-term care centers must provide activity programs that meet the interests and physical, mental
and psycho-social needs of each resident.
  • Activities must allow personal choice and promote physical, intellectual, social and emotional
well-being.
  • The center’s environment must promote quality of life.
  • The environment must be clean and safe and be as homelike as possible.
  • Residents are allowed to have personal possessions.