History

• The Federal Nursing Home Reform Act set policies and procedures that nursing homes must follow to receive federal funding. The act was modified to specify that elderly persons must have the right to tend to their own needs, without the use of physical or chemical restraints, as long as they are medically able to do so.
  
  

Quality of Care

• Medicare policies stipulate that a physician must be readily available to provide for the needs of those in the care of nursing homes. Nursing facilities must have licensed nurses available at all times.
  
  

Quality of Life

• Policies stipulate that nurses must respect their patients' dignity at all times. Examples include knocking before entering a patient's room, calling the patient by name and giving him choices in what food to eat and what activities he wishes to pursue. In facilities with more than 120 beds, social workers must be on site to ensure patients' rights are enforced.