Residents’ Rights and the LGBT Community:
Know YOUR Rights as a Nursing Home Resident The federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law requires nursing homes to “protect and promote the rights of each resident” emphasizing individual dignity and self-determination in the provision of long-term care. Every nursing home accepting Medicare and/or Medicaid must meet federal requirements, including those regarding residents’ rights.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT)
Older Adults and Long-Term Care Current estimates state that 9 million Americans identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).1 One study found that 27% of LGBT baby boomers had significant concerns about discrimination as they age and there are reports that LGBT older adults encounter violations of their rights when seeking long-term care services and supports.2 Incidents of abuse are often unreported or unidentified; however, a majority of individuals responding to a recent survey (578 of the 649 respondents or 89%) felt that staff would discriminate against an LGBT elder who was out of the closet.3 Additionally, negative treatment, including verbal and physical harassment, by other residents was the most commonly reported problem by respondents in this study.4
