Rights & Respect
This means speaking to residents respectfully, protecting privacy, and treating them like adults.
What is Dignity?
Using a calm voice, relaxed body language, and a friendly face helps residents feel this.
What is safe? :)
These are everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, and mobility.
What are ADL's? (Activities of Daily Living)
Keeping walkways clear, locking wheelchair brakes, and using proper footwear help prevent this.
What are falls?
Residents should be sitting upright during meals to help prevent this.
What is choking/aspiration?
A resident says “no” to a shower. Staff should not force them, because residents have this right.
What is the right of refusal?
When giving directions to a resident living with dementia, staff should give this many steps at a time.
What is one-step at a time?
When helping with dressing or grooming, staff should offer simple choices, such as “blue shirt or red shirt,” to support this resident right.
What is choice?
Before helping a resident stand, transfer, or walk, staff should make sure this device is within reach and used correctly if ordered.
What is assistive device?
Before serving a meal, staff should check the resident’s diet order, texture, and liquids to make sure they receive this.
What is the correct diet?
Before entering a resident’s room or bathroom, staff should do this first.
What is knock, introduce yourself and ask for permission?
Instead of arguing with a resident who believes something is true, staff should acknowledge their feelings and respond with this technique.
What is validation?
Staff should encourage residents to do as much as they safely can during care to maintain this.
What is independence?
A resident walking toward an exit may be trying to meet a need, such as going home, finding family, using the bathroom, or feeling anxious. Staff should first do this.
What is assess the need?
Staff should encourage independence during meals by allowing residents to do as much as they safely can, while offering this when needed.
What is assistance/cueing?
Residents have the right to make choices about clothing, meals, activities, and daily routines, even if staff would choose differently.
What is the right to choice/self-determination?
When a resident is upset, staff should avoid saying “You’re wrong” or “That didn’t happen” because it may increase this.
What is agitation/anxiety?
During bathing, toileting, or changing clothing, staff should keep doors/curtains closed and keep the resident covered as much as possible to protect this.
What is privacy/dignity?
When an alarm, motion sensor, or call light goes off, staff should respond promptly because it may indicate this.
What is a safety need/risk?
If a resident is coughing, pocketing food, refusing to eat, or having trouble swallowing, staff should report this to the nurse because it may be a change in this.
What is change in condition/swallowing ability?
Talking about a resident’s care, behaviors, or personal information in the hallway, dining room, or in front of others violates this resident right.
What is privacy/confidentiality?
When a resident refuses care, staff should step back, give time, come back later, and try a different staff member or approach. This is called this.
What is re-approach?
If a resident suddenly needs more help with eating, toileting, transferring, or personal care than usual, staff should report this because it may be a change in this.
What is a change in condition?
If a resident is missing or cannot be located, staff should immediately notify the nurse/lead and begin this procedure.
What is elopement/missing persons protocol?
During meals, staff should avoid rushing, crowding, or arguing with residents and instead use calm encouragement to create this kind of dining environment.
What is a safe and dignified dining experience?