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Know your Rights- Section One:

Your Rights are Important  

"We can offer information, advice, and support to help you resolve your concerns." 

Knowing and advocating for your rights is critical to a successful stay in a LTC facility. Your rights can be exercised by you, your representative, or a legally appointed guardian. Long-term care ombudsmen (LTC ombudsmen) can explain and help you exercise your rights.

 

What can you do if your rights are being violated? 

Whether you live in a nursing home, a boarding home ("assisted living facility"), an adult family home, or a state operated veterans' home, you or your advocate can pursue these options one at a time, simultaneously, and in any order:

Talk directly to facility staff

File a written grievance with the facility

Voice your concern and get support at a Resident Council meeting

Call your local LTC Ombudsman  for advice and/or request their help and involvement (See the list of LTC Ombudsmen by County)

Call the DSHS Complaint Hotline (1-800-562-6078) and report your concern.

  1. You will be asked to leave a message.

  2. Provide specific details about your concern, your name and phone number, and a good time to reach you.

  3. DSHS will call you back.

  4. You also have the option to remain anonymous to the facility, the DSHS, or to both entities.

 

What can a Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman can do to help ?

To start with, we can inform you of your rights. We can offer information, advice, and support to help you resolve your concerns. We can also act as your advocate to resolve your concerns to your satisfaction. We can speak to Resident and Family Councils, facility staff, and community groups about resident rights and other LTC topics. 

 

 

Remember this:

RETALIATION AND COERCION ARE ILLEGAL

 

Your rights are protected by law. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is a strong enforcer of resident rights. Acts of retaliation and coercion are dealt with swiftly and punitively by DSHS. 

 

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Website

 

Send email inquiries to DSHS at:
Askdshs@dshs.wa.gov 

 

DSHS Complaint Hotline:

1-800-562-6078

 

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