What is important to know about the rights of residents in nursing homes in Israel?

The Rights of Nursing Home Residents in Israel: A Guide to Awareness and Enforcement

When a loved one moves to a nursing home, it is important to deeply understand the rights they are entitled to and ensure they are preserved. The transition to an institutional framework can be accompanied by concerns and a feeling of loss of control for both the resident and their family members. Familiarity with the array of legal rights and setting clear boundaries with the institution can help you actively participate in ensuring your loved one's quality of life and well-being. In this guide, we will review the main rights of nursing home residents in Israel, provide tools for effective enforcement, and highlight important points to consider.

1. The right to maintain dignity, privacy, and autonomy

First, the Patient's Rights Law anchors the basic right of nursing home residents (like any citizen) to dignity, privacy, and the protection of personal information. The daily life of the resident, including personal care, should be conducted with maximal consideration of their wishes and personal preferences. No resident should be forced to participate in activities or behaviors, and as long as they are legally competent, they should be allowed to play an active role in decisions regarding their lives.

How can you assist in implementing this right?

• Make sure to involve the resident (as their cognitive condition allows) in all decision-making processes concerning them.
• Express firm opposition to any behavior from staff that seems abusive or humiliating.
• Ensure that the institution provides the resident with their own private space and respects their boundaries of privacy.

2. The right to an adequate standard of living and professional care

The Supervision of Institutions Law stipulates, among other things, that nursing home residents are entitled to:

• Housing in a spacious, well-lit, and ventilated room, equipped with necessary basic furniture.
• Professional and dedicated medical and nursing care by skilled and experienced staff.
• Receiving proper, varied nutrition tailored to their health status.
• A safe and accessible environment suited to their level of functioning.

As a supportive family, you can promote these rights by:

• Frequent visits to the institution to assess your loved one’s living and care conditions.
• Being attentive to signs of physical neglect or health issues that are not receiving appropriate attention.
• Demanding immediate correction of shortcomings from the management, and contacting supervisory authorities if necessary.

3. The right to freedom of movement and leaving the institution

In general, a resident of a nursing home is not confined or restricted in their movement within the institution or outside it. They should be given freedom of movement (subject to physical or cognitive limitations), and avoiding locking doors or prohibiting them from going outside. Exceptions to this rule apply in situations of danger to the resident themselves or those around them, but even then a court order allowing the restriction of movement is required.

As family members, you can pay attention to:

• That the resident is not isolated in their room and is allowed to move freely within the institution’s premises.
• That exits from the premises are documented and reported to the family appropriately.
• That no physical locking mechanisms are installed on doors and windows without clear justification.

4. The right to ongoing contact with the outside world

The resident has a basic right to maintain contact with the world outside the institution's walls - to receive visitors regularly, use the phone, send and receive mail, and even go out for recreational activities or vacations at the family home. The institution is required to encourage such contact and remove technical or practical barriers standing in its way.

It is advisable that as a family you ensure:

• Regular visits to your loved one and encouraging other family members and the social circle to do so.
• Checking that the resident has easy access to communication means such as a phone or the internet.
• Coordinating with the institution regarding outings, vacations, and transportation arrangements.

5. The right to file a complaint and receive serious attention

It is important to know that a resident (or their family) always has the right to complain about poor treatment, inappropriate behavior, or any other matter related to their stay in the institution. The nursing home is required to provide an available and accessible channel for filing complaints and to treat every inquiry with the appropriate seriousness - to address, rectify, and respond within a specified timeframe.

If you encounter a problem, remember:

• Raise it first with the management of the institution and request an immediate solution.
• If an appropriate response is not received, file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Health.
• Document all correspondence in writing and maintain a record of the handling of the issue.

Data and Useful Examples

• The Patient's Rights Act of 1996 serves as the foundation for the rights of nursing home residents in Israel, as they are often individuals requiring ongoing medical care.
• According to data from the Ministry of Health in 2020, only about 53% of nursing homes in the country met the required quality of care and infrastructure standards.
• The Geriatrics Division report indicated about 700 complaints received against nursing homes in 2021, most regarding poor care and neglect.
• About 25% of nursing home residents experience physical restraint during their stay, sometimes unnecessarily and infringing upon their rights.

Conclusion - Principles of Action for Families

1. Familiarize yourself well with your loved one's rights and prioritize them in discussions with the institution.
2. Maintain ongoing presence and oversight to ensure that rights are practically respected.
3. Do not hesitate to act assertively in case of rights violations - document, demand explanations, and turn to the courts if necessary.
4. Encourage the resident themselves to speak up, express their wishes, and stand up for their rights.
5. Utilize objective organizations such as advocacy associations and patient organizations for support and rights enforcement.

Awareness of rights, active involvement, and determination to safeguard them - these are the keys in your hands to ensure that your loved one enjoys a dignified and fulfilling life even in the nursing home.

Let us remember - our parents and grandparents built the lives we live today with their own hands. Now it is our turn to fight for them and ensure they receive the respect and tranquility they deserve at every stage of their lives. Because after all, how would we want to be treated when we reach their age?