You may be concerned about moving into a retirement community. You might think you have to give up some of your freedom or privacy to live in an assisted living or nursing home. But the truth is that moving into a retirement community doesn’t mean you lose your rights as a citizen. Many people who move into care centers feel safer because they now have staff available 24 hours a day who can help them with their daily needs like bathing and dressing—something they would never be able to do on their own at home with limited resources due to illness or disability.
They’re often more cost-effective, offer residents a higher degree of autonomy, and offer a wide array of amenities. However, not everyone who moves into a retirement community knows their rights as residents. Here’s what you need to know about your rights in this kind of living situation:
The Right to Dignity
The right to dignity is the right to be treated with respect and dignity. It means that your community must do its best to preserve your self-respect and not treat you in a way that would hurt or humiliate you. The community can’t force you to behave in particular ways, even if it is believed that this will help keep the community running smoothly.
It also means that if there are choices available for your care (for example, different types of medication), you have a right to choose which one works best for you based on what matters most in your life – whether it’s cost or quality of life or something else entirely!
The Right to Privacy
The right to privacy is an important one. It’s a basic human right that applies even after retirement, no matter how old. A retirement community should not be able to access your personal belongings or property without your permission, nor should they be reading through your mail without a warrant.
The Right to Personal Property
While it may seem like a small detail, one of the most important rights you should remember is your personal property. Unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties before you move in, you have every right to take any possessions that belong to you out of the community. This includes everything from clothes and mementos to furniture and electronics. If there are items that are not yours but were brought into your home during your stay at the community, they will remain inside until their owners can be contacted by an authorized representative (or until they are determined abandoned).
If you’re still uncertain about what belongs where once it comes time for departure day, ask questions! This applies especially to those who might need assistance moving things around later down the line—some communities offer services like this as part of membership packages.
The Right of Freedom
As a resident of a retirement community, you have the right to be free from interference and the right to have visitors. If you feel that your rights are being violated, seek legal advice.
- You have the right to move freely within and beyond your community (this includes driving).
- You also have the freedom to go wherever you want, but within certain limits: You can’t leave without telling someone or without permission if there’s an emergency or another reason for immediate departure (like a trip out of town). The only exception is if there’s an emergency like a fire or medical emergency requiring immediate attention at home.
The Right of Expression
You have the right to express your opinions, feelings, and concerns. Some people prefer not to partake in this activity, but you can if you want to.
You can say what you think about the community, team members, or even other residents. Nothing is off limits when it comes to voicing your thoughts on retirement communities.
You still have many of the same rights as any other citizen when you move into a retirement community. If you need more information on your rights as a resident, please contact us today!
