October is Residents’ Rights Month, a celebration recognizing the individual rights of residents of long-term care facilities and raising awareness of the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law, which guarantees nursing home residents individualized care, respect, dignity, the right to visitation, the right to privacy, the right to complain and the right to make independent choices.

To assist in resolving problems affecting the health, safety and welfare of residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, the federal government funds Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs in every state.

Lisa Walker, Bay Aging Vice President, Advocacy Resources, leads a team of five certified Long-Term Care Ombudsmen. “We receive, investigate, and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of local long-term care facilities,” she said. “We serve the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Hampton Roads.”

Walker and her team recently attended “Strengthening Connections for Resident Protectio...