Nursing Home Abuse in Arizona

The laws regarding nursing home abuse in Arizona are in place to help protect the health and rights of the residents in these facilities. Residents of the homes need to be treated with a certain standard dignity and respect according to the nursing home laws in the state. Residents and their family members who feel that any type of mistreatment has occurred at the home are able to submit their grievances without fear of retaliation from the facility. Residents and their representatives also have the right to get in touch with the long-term care ombudsman in Arizona for more help.

Rights for Nursing Home Residents in Arizona

The laws require that the resident rights are posted in the facility and that they are in a place that is easy to see. The residents or their representatives need to have a copy of the rights provided to them when they go to the facility. Some of the rights provided to the residents of nursing homes in the state include the following:

• Freedom from abuse, neglect, unnecessary restraint, manipulation, exploitation, and coercion
• Ability to receive aid from others when it comes to understanding and exercising rights
• Be informed of their health and medical conditions
• Receive treatment that supports their choices and abilities
• Right to refuse treatment
• Understand the complaint process and the policies on health care at the facility
• Receive a referral to a different facility if the current facility is unable to provide the correct behavioral and physical services.

Nursing Services Requirements

All of the facilities need to have a director of nursing. They need to hire the correct number and type of staff for their particular facility. Facility directors also need to ensure that all of the residents receive proper and individual care.

Residents need to have personalized resident care plans coordinated with an RN and an interdisciplinary team within 14 days of admission to the facility. Reviews and updates to the plan need to occur within one year, or whenever there is a change in health for the resident.

Dietary Services

A registered dietician needs to review the menus at the facility, and they need to ensure that they meet the nutritional requirements of each of the residents. The facility needs to have menu plans at least one week in advance, and those menus need to include the foods served each day.

Facility Requirements for Nursing Homes

The facilities in the state need to meet certain standards in order to operate. They need to have sufficient space for their residents and they need to fulfill the following criteria:

• Enough dining tables and chairs for all of the residents
• Separation between the dining area and where the food is prepared
• Slip resistant flooring for bathing areas
• At least one toilet and one sink for every ten residents
• The temperature needs to be between 68 degrees and 82 degrees Fahrenheit
• At least 40 square feet of indoor activity space per resident
• A safe outside activity space that contains a shaded area

The Ombudsman

A long-term care ombudsman will be able to help protect residents of nursing homes and to ensure they have their rights met. All those who are in nursing homes and who are considering homes are able to use the services of the ombudsman. They can provide help in a number of areas including:

• Investigating and resolving complaints against a facility
• They can communicate concerns quickly and professionally
• Requesting improvements for individualized care for residents
• Offer feedback and recommendations when it comes to choosing a nursing home