Assisted Living Bill of Rights

The Assisted Living Bill of Rights is a law that protects you if you are in an Assisted Living Facility. You can find this law and other protections related to Assisted Living in the MN statutes at Sec. 144G.91 MN Statutes. This fact sheet covers some of the most important rights you have under the law. 

Your care and services must be:

• Done by people who are trained.
• Based on what you need.
• In a service plan that is up to date and followed.

Yes. You can refuse care or assisted living services. If you refuse any of them, the facility must tell you if there are any physical and mental health risks.

Yes. You have the right to be a part of any planning of your care and services. This includes changes to and evaluations of your care and services.

Being a part of your planning can be things like:

• Talking with caregivers about your care and services, treatment you need, and other options that are available 
   
• Having family or other representatives be a part of planning
   
• Being told ahead of time about any changes to your care or service plan

You must always be treated with courtesy and respect. Your property also has to be treated well.

You can’t be treated badly. You have the right to be free from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. You are also protected from neglect, bad treatment, and financial exploitation. This means someone who wants to use your money or property for themselves.

You may come and go from your facility as you please. That freedom can be limited only if the law or your service plan says so.

You have the right to make your own life choices. You can make your own daily schedule and choose who you want to interact with.

Yes. You are in control of your own money and can decide how to use it.

You can have visitors any time you want. It can be family or friends or anyone else you want. This right can only be limited if it needs to be for your health and safety.

You have the right to take part in community, social, religious, commercial, and political activities.

Your personal privacy and cultural identity must be respected at all times. Unless it’s an emergency, staff where you live should always knock before entering your room. You also have the right to privacy when talking on the phone or in person.

Your right to privacy also covers when you are: 

• talking about your care to someone
• being examined or treated
• using the bathroom or other personal hygiene activities.
   

Respect for your cultural identity can be things like respecting and recognizing your language and customs.

Your personal, financial, and health records must be kept private. If anyone asks for them, they have to tell you who and why they want to see them. You can say no to the person who wants to see them unless they are allowed to by law. You can always see your own records.

You can decorate your room any way you want to. You can use the furniture you want. If you are sharing a room, you can choose your roommate.

You have the right to make complaints or ask about something. The facility has to tell you who is the staff person you can complain to. They should answer you quickly.

Before you sign anything having to do with your housing or services, you have the right to know all the details about costs and charges. They have to tell you what you are responsible to pay for. They also have to tell you about any limits on housing or services.

One of the most important is eviction protection. If your Assisted Living Facility tries to evict you without a proper reason or they have violated any of your rights, you can appeal the eviction.  You can find these protections at Secs. 144G.52 and 144G.54 MN Statutes.

These rights are not in the Assisted Living Bill of Rights, but you also have the right to:

1. Put a camera in your room.
2. Ask for legal help or help from the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care.
3. Be free from any retaliation for making a complaint or asking for legal help or help from the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care.

If you need help from the Ombudsman, call: 1-800-657-3591 or 651-431-2555.