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February 7, 2025

Support SB 5337: Strengthening Memory Care for Washington’s Seniors

Support SB 5337 to improve memory care services in Washington! Currently, over 126,000 Washingtonians live with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, requiring specialized care and support. However, “Memory Care” is not legally defined, leading to confusion for families. SB 5337 will establish a standardized definition, require annual dementia training for staff, and strengthen oversight Read More

February
5

February 5, 2025

Advocacy Day 2025

Thank you to all who participated in our first-ever Ombuds Advocacy Day in Olympia! . We’ve received lots of great feedback and words of thanks from participants. The real “thanks” goes to all of you for your amazing extra effort to travel to Olympia, and speaking with legislators and their staff about your concerns, and Read More

January
19

January 19, 2024

Seattle Times Guest Opinion about HB 1859

December 2023 by Patricia Hunter, State LTC Ombuds Click Here to read article Read More

January
19

January 19, 2024

Residents of long-term care facilities need stronger eviction protections

December 18, 2023 by Adam Chromy Click Here to read article Read More

October
10

October 10, 2023

Petition to Support HB1859 and Discharge Appeal Rights

We the undersigned individuals and organizations support robust resident rights for individuals living in licensed long-term care and believe that all residents should be provided the same basic human rights and protections, regardless of the kind of setting they live in. We ask the legislature to fulfill the promise made in RCW. 70.129 Read More

April
26

April 26, 2023

Legislative Bill Tracking 4/26/23 3:30 pm

Click here to download PDF Bill Number Bill Sponsor Subject Current Status LTCOP Position Comments HB 1694- Alvarado Addressing home care workforce shortages. Apr 19 Delivered to Governor. Support Working with bill sponsor. SB 5120- Dhingra Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state. Apr 24 Delivered to Governor. Support with concerns Read More

April
13

April 13, 2023

Legislative Bill Tracking 4/13/23 6:00 pm

Click here to download a PDF of the tracker. Bill Number Bill Sponsor Subject Current Status LTCOP Position Comments HB 1694- Alvarado Addressing home care workforce shortages. IN THE HOUSE 4/13- House concurred in Senate amendments. Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. Support Working with bill sponsor. SB 5120- Read More

March
25

March 25, 2023

Legislative Bill Tracking 3/25/23 9:00 am

Click here to download PDF Bill Number Bill Sponsor Subject Current Status LTCOP Position Comments HB 1694- Alvarado Addressing home care workforce shortages. 3/23 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 10:30 AM. 3/24- Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. Support Working with bill Read More

March
16

March 16, 2023

Legislative Bill Tracking 3/16/23 12:00 pm

Click Here to Download PDF Bill Number Bill Sponsor Subject Current Status LTCOP Position Comments HB 1694- Alvarado Addressing home care workforce shortages. 3/17- In the Senate- Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 8:00 AM. Support Working with bill sponsor. No change since last Read More

March
10

March 10, 2023

Legislative Bill Tracking 3/10/23 12:00 pm

Click Here to Download PDF. Bill Number Bill Sponsor Subject Current Status LTCOP Position Comments HB 1694- Alvarado Addressing home care workforce shortages. 3/17- In the Senate- Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). Support Working with bill sponsor Read More

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Resident Rights

An Overview of Resident Rights

If you live in a Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility, such as a nursing home, boarding home (also called “assisted living facility”), adult family home, or state operated veterans’ home, you have:

The same civil and legal rights as all US citizens; plus
A basic set of legally protected Resident Rights.

Resident Rights cover all aspects of your stay: from admission, to living in the facility, and discharge.

A short history of Resident Rights

People who live in long-term care facilities are more vulnerable than people who live independently. In 1987, the U. S. Congress recognized this fact and passed The Nursing Home Reform Act that gave nursing home residents additional legal protections, including a set of Resident Rights.

In 1995, the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman was successful in persuading the Washington legislature to extend Resident Rights to other LTC facilities: boarding homes, adult family homes, and state operated veterans’ homes.

Resident Rights put you in charge

Resident Rights enable you to direct all aspects of your stay in a LTC facility. For example, you have the right to make decisions regarding your plan of treatment, how you conduct your personal life, and at what time and location you want to be discharged from the facility.

Knowing and advocating for your rights is critical to a successful stay in a LTC facility. You, your representative, or a legally appointed guardian can exercise your rights. A long-term care ombudsman 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.
- You will be asked to leave a message.
- Provide specific details about your concern, your name and phone number, and a good time to reach you.
- DSHS will call you back.
You also have the option to remain anonymous to the facility, DSHS, or to both entities.

Retaliation, Coercion or Interference

It is illegal to retaliate against residents in any way for talking to the ombudsman or filing a complaint or grievance. It is also illegal for a facility to interfere with the ombudsman’s duties, including the investigation of complaints or provision of information to residents, families and others. Residents have the right to meet privately with the ombudsman and to have these conversations remain confidential. The ombudsman’s investigations and records are also confidential, unless disclosure is approved.

To view the complete Revised Code of Washington (RCW) for LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENT RIGHTS, Chapter 70.129 visit https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=70.129