Elder Services celebrates Long-term Care Residents’ Rights Week
Elder Services recognized the individual rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Residents’ Rights Week, October 5 to 11, with a special luncheon on October 6 at the Ralph Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield. Among those attending were the presidents and vice presidents of the Residents’ Councils of 11 of Berkshire County’s long-term care facilities: Berkshire Place, Craneville Place, Great Barrington Rehabilitation and Nursing, Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center, Laurel Lake Center for Health and Rehabilitation, Mount Greylock Extended Care Facility, Sweetbrook Care Center, Timberlyn Heights, and Williamstown, Hillcrest, and North Adams Commons.
Elder Services Long Term Care Ombudsman program has promoted residents’ rights tirelessly for more than 26 years. Currently 23 Ombudsman volunteers make weekly visits to the 16 nursing and rest homes in Berkshire County to assist residents with complaints, provide information to both residents and families, and advocate for positive changes in the long-term care system. Ombudsman volunteers donate their time to provide each nursing home resident the opportunity to openly discuss aspects of their living situation that they would like to improve.
A delicious turkey dinner was prepared by Elder Services’ Lanesboro kitchen and enjoyed by the 63 attendees. The event has grown from the first luncheon five years ago when 28 participants represented seven nursing homes.
Entertainment celebrating the occasion included John Bedard on piano and the Rhythm Belles, line dancers from North Adams, consisting of Mary Dean, Evelyn Gallese, Lucille Shanz, and Ira Trabold. The dancers range in age from 61 to 94.
There are currently some 2.7 million Americans living in 62,000 nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and board and care homes across the country. Designated by the
National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, Residents’ Rights Week highlights the importance of residents’ participation in discussions about improving the quality of care in their long-term care facilities.
