Residents' Bill of Rights

The Ontario Government, in the new Long Term Care Program Facility Manual, requires that you be made aware of the Residents' Bill of Rights. You should be aware that the Canadian Charter of Rights has a much broader scope and may possibly override some of the following articles. Shalom Manor will endeavour to uphold these rights for you within the limitations of our physical facility and available resources. You have the right to:

• be treated with courtesy and respect and in a way that fully recognizes the Resident's dignity and individuality and to be free from mental and physical abuse;

• be protected from abuse;

• not be neglected by the licensee or staff;

• be properly sheltered, fed, clothed, groomed and cared for in a manner consistent with his or her needs;

• live in a safe and clean environment

• exercise the rights of a citizen

• be told who is responsible for and who is providing the Resident's direct care;

• be afforded privacy in treatment and in caring for his or her personal needs;

• have his or her participation in decision-making respected;

• keep in his or her room and display personal possessions, pictures and furnishings in keeping with safety requirements and other residents' rights;

• be informed of his or her medical condition, treatment and proposed course of treatment;

• give or refuse consent to treatment, including medication, in accordance with the law and to be informed of the consequences of giving or refusing consent;

• have the opportunity to participate fully in making any decision and obtaining an independent medical opinion concerning any aspect of his or her care, including any decision concerning his or her admission, discharge or transfer to or from a nursing home;

• have his or her records of personal health information…kept confidential in accordance with the law;

• receive reactivation and assistance towards independence consistent with his or her requirements;

• not be restrained, except in the limited circumstances provided for under this Act and subject to the requirements provided for under this Act;

• communicate in confidence, to receive visitors of his or her choice and to consult in private with any person without interference;

• have members of the his/her family present 24 hours per day, when death is likely to be imminent;

• designate a person to receive information concerning any transfer or emergency hospitalization of the Resident and where a person is so designated to have that person so informed forthwith;

• exercise the rights to raise concerns or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others to the Residents' Council, Family Council, the board of directors, Shalom Manor staff, government officials or any other person inside or outside Shalom Manor, without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal;

• form friendships, to enjoy relationships and to participate in the residents' council;

• to have his or her lifestyle and choices respected;

• meet privately with his or her spouse in a room that assures privacy and where both spouses are residents in Shalom Manor, they have a right to share a room according to their wishes, if an appropriate room is available;

• pursue social, cultural, religious and other interests to develop his or her potential and to be given reasonable provisions by Shalom Manor to accommodate these pursuits;

• be informed in writing of any law, rule or policy affecting the operation of Shalom Manor and of the procedures for initiating complaints;

• manage his or her own financial affairs where the Resident is able to do so, and where the Resident's financial affairs are managed by Shalom Manor, to receive a quarterly accounting of any transactions undertaken on his or her behalf and to be assured that the Resident's property is managed solely on the Resident's behalf;

• be given access to protected areas outside Shalom Manor in order to enjoy outdoor activity, unless the physical setting makes this impossible;

• have any friend, family member or other person of importance to the resident attend any meeting with the board, administration and/or staff of Shalom Manor.