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Tip Sheets
Nursing Home Care Plan & Care Conference
Each nursing home resident has a written care plan that outlines his or her individual care and service needs.
Every three months, the resident and his or her family have the opportunity to participate in a care conference with nursing home staff in order to reevaluate the care plan. The care plan is contained within the medical record.
What are your rights with your medical record?
You may review your medical record within 24 hours of making a request to review it. Except for the nursing home staff, no one may look at a your record without your permission. You may give permission to others - such as a relative, friend or ombudsman - to review your record.
If you have a legal conservator, guardian or health care power of attorney, this person has the authority to review your record without your consent.
If you have a power of attorney for your finances, this person does not have authority to review your medical record without your consent.
Your care plan is part of your medical record.
What is a care plan?
The care plan lists each specific concern or need you have, the goal for addressing each concern/need, the staff action to accomplish the goal and the measurable objectives to determine whether the approach was successful.
Each goal must be specific and measurable. For example, a goal might be: "Resident will be walked by two staff persons for 15 minutes up and down the corridor at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m." The care plan implies that the facility agrees to provide and is accountable for the services described. It is important that the care plan accurately and specifically describes the services to which you and the staff agreed.
Fostering understanding through the Care Conference
A Care Conference is where you and the nursing home agree to your care plan.
Prior to attending your care conference, request and review your care plan for accuracy. Write down any changes you would like to suggest, and bring your list to the conference.
After the conference, request a copy of the revised plan. You or your representative can monitor the implementation of the goals and if you think the plan is not being fulfilled, you can refer back to your care plan.
What rights do you have as a nursing home resident?
Federal and state laws outline rights for nursing home residents, including the responsibility of the facility to carry out the care plan.
If you have other questions, please contact the Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans at 1-800-657-3591 or
651-431-2555. The Office also offers a booklet titled, "The Rights of Nursing Home Residents in Minnesota." Call to request a copy.
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