“Stand With Me”: Honoring the Voices and Rights of Long-Term Care Residents

Each October, we pause to recognize Residents’ Rights Month, a time to highlight and honor the fundamental rights of residents in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities – the rights that protect and promote quality of life and quality care.

Chief among these – the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to make choices about daily life and care, and to be safe from abuse or neglect.

This year’s theme, “Stand With Me,” is a powerful call to action for us all — reminding us that
residents must not be alone in asserting and protecting their rights. Our LTC residents are an
integral and valuable part of our larger community – many of whom are our former teachers,
pastors, medical professionals, caregivers, and first responders – neighbors and friends whose
lives were dedicated to building and sustaining our communities and nurturing future
generations. They deserve not only to be heard, but to be supported, respected, and
empowered in continuing to live into meaningful days and relished relationships.

“Stand With Me” invites all of us—families, caregivers, advocates, and community members—to
walk alongside residents as partners in their care. It means listening to their stories, honoring
their choices, and ensuring their rights are upheld every day. Whether it’s the right to
participate in care planning, to receive visitors, or to live free from abuse and neglect, these are
not privileges—they are protections guaranteed under federal and state law.
As Long-Term Care Ombudsmen, we stand with residents by amplifying their voices and
addressing concerns that affect their quality of life. But advocacy doesn’t belong to one
program alone. It belongs to all of us who believe in justice, compassion, and the inherent
worth of every individual.

Let this month be a time to stand with residents for values essential to us all – values we must
collectively and actively support. Let’s remember that when we stand with residents, we stand
for a system of care that keeps the resident at the center – valuing and prioritizing people over
profits, and dignity over convenience.

If you or someone you know needs help navigating long-term care concerns, contact your local
Long-Term Care Ombudsman by calling 1-804-565-1600. Together, we can ensure that every
resident is treated with the respect and humanity they deserve.