Restriction of In-Room Visitation and Loss of Resident Privacy Rights
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to honor residents’ rights to private visits and a dignified existence when it implemented new house rules restricting in-room visitation between residents from different wings. The facility’s written Resident Rights document states that residents have the right to private visits unless limited by a physician for medical reasons. However, effective January 23, 2026, the facility implemented a new House Rules and Behavior Expectations agreement, including a rule that residents are prohibited from going onto another unit or floor where they do not reside and directing them to use the dining room if they wish to visit a co-resident. The Administrator confirmed that this rule was added to make it easier to identify residents who were smoking in their rooms and that it was implemented permanently, with 80 of 92 residents signing the new agreement. The Administrator also acknowledged that there is currently no place where residents from different wings can visit privately. Multiple residents reported that this new rule removed their ability to have private visits in their rooms, particularly with significant others and friends who live on different wings. One resident stated she could no longer have her boyfriend or friends in her room and that they could not be intimate due to lack of privacy. Another resident reported that the rule violated his rights, increased his depression, and that he does not like leaving his room. Other residents described the rules as unconstitutional, said they could no longer play video games with friends in private, and reported feeling annoyed, depressed, anxious, and like prisoners because they could not have private time with friends or partners. One resident with chronic migraine headaches stated she prefers to stay in her room and now has limited time with her boyfriend because she does not like to go to the dining area. Staff confirmed that the new rule prohibiting residents from entering rooms on other wings had recently started and that residents were complaining about it.
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