The General Assembly finds that persons residing within long-term care facilities are isolated from the community and often lack the means to assert their rights fully as individual citizens. The General Assembly recognizes the need for these persons to live within the least restrictive environment possible in order to retain their individuality and personal freedom. The General Assembly further finds that it is necessary to preserve the dignity and personal integrity of residents of long-term care facilities through the recognition and declaration of rights safeguarding against encroachments upon each resident‘s need for self-determination.