Delaware to Celebrate Residents' Rights Week 2008

Each October Delaware Health and Social Services' (DHSS) Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) and its office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman honor residents living in all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living, board and care, and retirement communities. The week, held October 5th through the 11th, is a time for celebration and recognition offering an opportunity for every long term care facility to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect and the value of each individual resident.

As part of this year's celebration, Delaware's long term care residents are invited to submit their recipe for what home means to them and how to create that home in a long-term care facility. This new event presents an opportunity for residents from facilities across the State to share their ideas with others.

Submissions may be written (poetry, prose, letter, recipe, word puzzle, etc.) or graphic (collage, painting, photographs, puzzle, etc.) Residents' submissions will be randomly displayed on the DHSS website in a new section called "The Residents" Voice". All residents who participate will receive a certificate of participation. More information about this event, including instructions for submitting entries, can be found on the DHSS website.

Delaware will also celebrate Residents' Rights week with a pep rally on October 1, 2008 1-3 pm at the Dover Sheraton. This year's rally is entitled "3 Cheers for the Red, White and Blue and Residents Rights!" For details, contact Sandy Dole at sandyd@qualityage.net or 302-684-2755.

More information about residents rights in Delaware is available from DSAAPD's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. To learn more, please visit the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program page of this website or contact DSAAPD.