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Residents of assisted living facilities in RI have the right to respectful quality care, and to voice grievances and suggest changes to policy, but very few RI assisted living facilities permit and support family councils to this end.
Contact your legislators and urge them to support this crucial legislation!
We must ensure that the rights of this vulnerable population are no longer compromised.
Residents of nursing homes have the right to have family councils formed and conducted by their family/friends/representatives “to address issues affecting residents generally at the facility” on their behalf. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.5-30)
RI regulations do not grant this same right to residents of assisted living facilities.
Approximately 40% of assisted living residents have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32175594/), which impairs their ability to advocate effectively for themselves. Several RI assisted living residences serve exclusively people living with dementia.
The vast majority of these residences do not support the formation and operation of family councils.
S2377/H8153 simply grants assisted living residents the same right to have their families/friends/representatives organize for advocacy on their behalf that nursing home residents have already been granted,
S2377/H8153 includes the added protection that no family/friend/representative may join without the resident’s consent unless the resident resides in a dementia special care unit.
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