Residents’ Bill Of Rights

As found in Section 1.1 of the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act as amended 2004:

The fundamental principle in this Act is that a Home is primarily the home of the residents and, as such, it is to be operated in such a way that the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of each of its residents are adequately met and that its residents are given the opportunity to contribute, in accordance with their ability, to the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of others.

Every Resident has the Right: 

1. 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.
2. To be properly sheltered, fed, clothed, groomed and cared for in a manner consistent with his or her needs.
3. To be told who is responsible for and who is providing the resident’s direct care.
4. To be afforded privacy in treatment and in caring for his or her personal needs.
5. To keep in his or her room and display personal possessions, pictures and furnishings in keeping with safety requirements and rights of other residents of the Home.
6. (i) To be informed of his or her medical condition, treatment and proposed course of treatment; (ii) To 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; (iii)To 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 Home; (iv) To have his or her records of personal health information, within the meaning of the Personal Health Information Act 2004, kept confidential in accordance with the law.
7. To receive reactivation and assistance toward independence consistent with his or her requirements.
8. When being considered for restraints, to be fully informed about the procedures and the consequences of receiving or refusing them.
9. To communicate in confidence, to receive visitors of his or her choice and to consult in private with any person without interference.
10. When their death is likely to be imminent, to have members of the resident’s family present twenty-four hours per day.                                                                               
11. To designate a person to receive information concerning any transfer or emergency hospitalization of the resident and, if a person is so designated, to have that person so informed forthwith.
12. To exercise the rights of a citizen and to raise concerns or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others to the Residents’ Council, staff of the Home, government officials or any other person inside or outside the Home, without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.
13. To form friendships, to enjoy relationships and to participate in the Resident’s Council.
14. To meet privately with his or her spouse or same-sex partner in a room that assures privacy and, if both spouses or same-sex partners are residents in the same Home, they have a right to share a room according to their wishes, if an appropriate room is available.
15. To pursue social, cultural, religious and other interests, to develop his or her potential and to be given reasonable provisions by the Home to accommodate these pursuits.
16. To be informed in writing of any law, rule or policy affecting the operation of the Home and the procedures for initiating complaints.
17. To manage his or her own financial affairs if the resident is able to do so and, if the resident’s financial affairs are managed by the Home, 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.
18. To live in a safe and clean environment.
19. To be given access to protected areas outside the Home in order to enjoy outdoor activity, unless the physical setting makes this impossible.

Resident Responsibilities

The fundamental principle is that Lanark Lodge is the home of all residents and, as such, it is to be operated in such a way that its residents are given the opportunity to contribute, in accordance with their ability, to the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of others.

In order to create a warm, supportive atmosphere Lanark Lodge expects residents, to the best of their abilities, to endeavour to conduct themselves in a responsible manner. In this spirit, residents are reasonably expected to treat all fellow residents with courtesy, compassion and consideration – and to keep in mind their rights at all times to be treated with respect as much as you are. Similarly, the staff of the home are here to provide care and service, and we expect residents and families to treat staff, students and volunteers with dignity and respect as they carry out their duties in a proper manner.

Lodging a Complaint