RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY

(a) An elderly individual has all the rights, benefits, responsibilities, and privileges granted by the constitution and laws of this state and the United States, except where lawfully restricted. The elderly individual has the right to be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, and reprisal in exercising these civil rights.

(b) An elderly individual has the right to be treated with dignity and respect for the personal integrity of the individual, without regard to race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, or source of payment. This means that the elderly individual:

(1) has the right to make the individual's own choices regarding the individual's personal affairs, care, benefits, and services;

(2) has the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and

(3) if protective measures are required, has the right to designate a guardian or representative to ensure the right to quality stewardship of the individual's affairs.

(c) An elderly individual has the right to be free from physical and mental abuse, including corporal punishment or physical or chemical restraints that are administered for the purpose of discipline or convenience and not required to treat the individual's medical symptoms. A person providing services may use physical or chemical restraints only if the use is authorized in writing by a physician or the use is necessary in an emergency to protect the elderly individual or others from injury. A physician's written authorization for the use of restraints must specify the circumstances under which the restraints may be used and the duration for which the restraints may be used. Except in an emergency, restraints may only be administered by qualified medical personnel.

(d) An elderly individual with an intellectual disability who has a court-appointed guardian of the person may participate in a behavior modification program involving use of restraints or adverse stimuli only with the informed consent of the guardian.

(e) An elderly individual may not be prohibited from communicating in the individual's native language with other individuals or employees for the purpose of acquiring or providing any type of treatment, care, or services.

(f) An elderly individual may complain about the individual's care or treatment. The complaint may be made anonymously or communicated by a person designated by the elderly individual. The person providing service shall promptly respond to resolve the complaint. The person providing services may not discriminate or take other punitive action against an elderly individual who makes a complaint.

(g) An elderly individual is entitled to privacy while attending to personal needs and a private place for receiving visitors or associating with other individuals unless providing privacy would infringe on the rights of other individuals. This right applies to medical treatment, written communications, telephone conversations, meeting with family, and access to resident councils. An elderly person may send and receive unopened mail, and the person providing services shall ensure that the individual's mail is sent and delivered promptly. If an elderly individual is married and the spouse is receiving similar services, the couple may share a room.

(h) An elderly individual may participate in activities of social, religious, or community groups unless the participation interferes with the rights of other persons.

(j) An elderly individual is entitled to access to the individual's personal and clinical records. These records are confidential and may not be released without the elderly individual's consent, except the records may be released:

(1) to another person providing services at the time the elderly individual is transferred; or

(2) if the release is required by another law.

(k) A person providing services shall fully inform an elderly individual, in language that the individual can understand, of the individual's total medical condition and shall notify the individual whenever there is a significant change in the person's medical condition.

(l) An elderly individual may choose and retain a personal physician and is entitled to be fully informed in advance about treatment or care that may affect the individual's well-being.

(m) An elderly individual may participate in an individual plan of care that describes the individual's medical, nursing, and psychological needs and how the needs will be met.

(n) An elderly individual may refuse medical treatment after the elderly individual:

(1) is advised by the person providing services of the possible consequences of refusing treatment; and

(2) acknowledges that the individual clearly understands the consequences of refusing treatment.

(o) An elderly individual may retain and use personal possessions, including clothing and furnishings, as space permits. The number of personal possessions may be limited for the health and safety of other individuals.

(p) An elderly individual may refuse to perform services for the person providing services.

(q) Not later than the 30th day after the date the elderly individual is admitted for service, a person providing services shall inform the individual:

(1) whether the individual is entitled to benefits under Medicare or Medicaid; and

(2) which items and services are covered by these benefits, including items or services for which the elderly individual may not be charged.

(r) A person providing services may not transfer or discharge an elderly individual unless:

(1) the transfer is for the elderly individual's welfare, and the individual's needs cannot be met by the person providing services;

(2) the elderly individual's health is improved sufficiently so that services are no longer needed;

(3) the elderly individual's health and safety or the health and safety of another individual would be endangered if the transfer or discharge was not made;

(4) the person providing services ceases to operate or to participate in the program that reimburses the person providing services for the elderly individual's treatment or care; or

(5) the elderly individual fails, after reasonable and appropriate notices, to pay for services.

(s) Except in an emergency, a person providing services may not transfer or discharge an elderly individual from a residential facility until the 30th day after the date the person providing services provides written notice to the elderly individual, the individual's legal representative, or a member of the individual's family stating:

(1) that the person providing services intends to transfer or to discharge the elderly individual;

(2) the reason for the transfer or discharge listed in Subsection (r);

(3) the effective date of the transfer or discharge;

(4) if the individual is to be transferred, the location to which the individual will be transferred; and

(5) the individual's right to appeal the action and the person to whom the appeal should be directed.

(t) An elderly individual may:

(1) make a living will by executing a directive under Subchapter B , Chapter 166 , Health and Safety Code;

(2) execute a medical power of attorney under Subchapter D , Chapter 166 , Health and Safety Code; or

(3) designate a guardian in advance of need to make decisions regarding the individual's health care should the individual become incapacitated. Added by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 5159, ch. 936, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 475, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219 ), Sec. 4.363, eff. April 2, 2015.