Right to Dignity & Privacy
This is more than just "being nice." It is a legal requirement. Residents have the right to:
- •**Full Privacy** during medical treatment, visits, and phone calls.
- •**Choose their own clothing** and keep personal belongings in their room.
- •**Respectful Communication**: Staff cannot speak "down" to residents or treat them like children.
Right to Financial Control
The facility is not a bank. Residents have the right to manage their own financial affairs. If they choose to let the facility hold their money, the facility **must** provide a quarterly statement showing every single penny spent.
Facilities are legally barred from co-mingling resident funds with the facility's business accounts.
Right to Information & Choice
Residents have the absolute right to choose their own doctor and be fully informed about their medical condition in language they understand.
- •**Informed Refusal**: Residents can say "No" to any treatment or medication.
- •**Access to Records**: You have a legal right to review medical records within 24 hours of a request.
The "No-Retaliation" Guarantee
Many families are afraid to speak up because they fear the staff will neglect their loved one in retaliation. **Texas law strictly prohibits retaliation.**
"A facility cannot discharge, transfer, or punish a resident for filing a complaint or participating in an audit of the facility."
How to Report a Violation in Texas
If any of these rights are being violated, do not wait. You can file an anonymous complaint with the **Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)**.
Texas HHSC Complaint Hotline:
1-800-458-9858
Available 24/7 for reporting abuse, neglect, or rights violations.