View source for Introduction to Rights in Home Care and Senior Housing

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==Introduction==

This chapter discusses the rights of people living in long-term care and common issues that arise for people living in long-term care.

Some of these issues are addressed by the laws that govern long-term care facilities – the ''[https://www.canlii.ca/t/84lk Community Care and Assisted Living Act],'' the ''[https://canlii.ca/t/89ln Residential Care Regulation]'' and ''[https://canlii.ca/t/9lrn Assisted Living Regulation]'', or for extended care and private hospitals, the ''[https://canlii.ca/t/843c Hospital Act]''. Some issues, like the use of restraints or minimum operating standards are very specifically addressed in the governing laws, while other issues fall under the broad protections guaranteed by the ''Residents’ Bill of Rights'', including for example the right to health, safety, and dignity.([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|1]])

Another important law is the ''[https://canlii.ca/t/842m Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admissions) Act (HCCCFAA)],'' which outlines an adult’s right to make informed decisions about their health care, as well as the rights and obligations of their substitute decision-maker if applicable. It also addresses an adult’s rights when being admitted to long-term care.

While the law offers various levels of recourse to solve problems, the first and most practical timely approach is to try to resolve problems directly within the facility using their complaint procedures. See Chapter 6 for more information about advocacy strategies.

It is important to keep in mind that unlike an acute care hospital, a care facility is the adult’s home and residents should be able to carry on their usual activities of daily life.

==References==
#The Residents' Bill of Rights is contained as a schedule to the ''Community Care and Assisted Living Act, BC 2002'', c 75, Sch, online: <https://canlii.ca/t/84lk>.

{{REVIEWED | reviewer = Seniors First BC, February 2024}}
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