If the rights presented in this booklet are not applied
within your facility, the following actions are suggested:
1Define the problem.Writing it down may help make
clear exactly what has happened and why it is wrong.
When did it happen? (Give times and dates, if possible.)
Who was involved or saw the incident? Ask questions of
others who may be involved or know about the problem.
2Talk to the staff. If it seems appropriate, talk about
the problem with the staff responsible for taking care
of you. Find out the facility procedures for resolving
problems or concerns. If this does not seem like a good
idea, or if you are not satisfied after you do so, consider
talking to the facility administrator, the administrator’s
designee, your physician, the director of nursing, the
social worker or the floor nurse.
3Participate in the Resident Council.The Resident
Council may raise concerns on behalf of a resident.
4Ask for assistance. If you or the Resident Council
need help solving a problem, you may ask the Illinois
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program for assistance.
The program offers confidential help to older adults who
have questions, concerns or complaints regarding the
care they are receiving in their long-term care facility.
Call:
Illinois Department on Aging
1-800-252-8966
1-888-206-1327 (TTY)
If the problem relates to a person with a developmental
disability or mental illness, you may ask for help from
Equip for Equality, a non-profit organization named by
the Governor to provide protection and advocacy for
people with disabilities in all aspects of community
living regardless of age. Call:
Equip for Equality
1-800-537-2632
1-800-610-2779 (TTY)
5File a grievance with the Central Complaint Registry.
Illinois has a formal Central Complaint Registry in the
Illinois Department of Public Health. If you think your
facility is violating your rights or those of your fellow
residents, you can make a complaint against it.The
Illinois Department of Public Health will investigate your
grievance. If a violation has been found, the long-term
care facility will be cited; and corrective action will be
taken. Call:
Central Complaint Registry
1-800-252-4343
1-800-547-0466 (TTY)
To obtain copies of the following brochures:
Residents’ Rights for Persons Residing in Supportive Living Facilities
Residents’ Rights for People in Intermediate Care Facilities
for the Developmentally Disabled
Call 1-800-252-8966, 1-888-206-1327 (TTY), or
Visit www.state.il.us/aging on theWeb and link to
“News and Publications.”
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