MYTH:
Nursing facility residents lose all of their rights.

FACT:
Nursing facility residents maintain all of their constitutional rights, including the right to vote. In fact, an act passed by Congress, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA 87), outlines specific rights to all nursing facility residents. Among other rights, residents have the right to voice complaints and concerns about the facility, the right to have a voice in the care that they are given, the right to receive visitors as well as freedom of choice.

MYTH:
Residents of nursing facilities are physically restrained.

FACT:
No restraint, chemical nor physical, can be applied without a physician's order from the resident's physician. Additionally, all Central Management facilities solicit family input and support prior to requesting a physician's order for a restraint. In those few cases where restraints must be implemented, application of a restraint must be in the best interest of the resident, not for the facility.

MYTH:
Residents of nursing facilities don't have choices as to what they eat, the activities that they participate in, nor in what time they retire for the evening.

FACT:
Our staff realizes that living in a nursing facility is not the same as living at home, but we do try to see that our residents' environments are as "home-like" as possible. Every effort is made to accommodate the resident's individual needs and desires. In order to accommodate residents' varying tastes in food, each meal prepared has an additional alternative meal prepared. Also residents are able to choose the activities in which they participate and are free to retire at the time of their choosing.

Additionally, our residents are encouraged to bring furniture, art and photographs from home to decorate their rooms. This gives our residents a feeling of "being at home." It is our desire to make their environment as "home-like" as possible.

MYTH:
Nursing facility residents are held against their will.

FACT:
Residents are not unwillingly "committed" to nursing facilities. It is the choice of the resident as to whether or not they enter a facility. Residents are able to leave nursing facilities at any time. Also residents who are able may visit family and friends as they desire as well as go on outings of their choosing.

MYTH:
A day will come when nursing facilities are no longer needed.

FACT:
As the aging population continues to increase, nursing facilities will always be needed in our society. Alhtough nursing home placement is not for everyone, many elderly and disabled often have needs which cannot be met in any other setting. Nursing homes provide meals, therapy, 24-hour nursing services, social services, as well as an integrated program of activities.