(1) No resident of any facility shall be deprived of any civil or legal rights, benefits, or privileges guaranteed by law, by the State Constitution, or by the United States Constitution solely by reason of status as a resident of a facility. Each resident of a facility has the right to:

(a) Live in a safe and decent living environment, free from abuse and neglect.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 651.083

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Facility: means a place where continuing care is furnished and may include one or more physical plants on a primary or contiguous site or an immediately accessible site. See Florida Statutes 651.011
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Provider: means the owner or operator, whether a natural person, partnership or other unincorporated association, however organized, trust, or corporation, of an institution, building, residence, or other place, whether operated for profit or not, which owner or operator provides continuing care or continuing care at-home for a fixed or variable fee, or for any other remuneration of any type, whether fixed or variable, for the period of care, payable in a lump sum or lump sum and monthly maintenance charges or in installments. See Florida Statutes 651.011
  • Resident: means a purchaser of, a nominee of, or a subscriber to a continuing care or continuing care at-home contract. See Florida Statutes 651.011
(b) Be treated with consideration and respect and with due recognition of personal dignity, individuality, and the need for privacy.
(c) Unrestricted private communication, including receiving and sending unopened correspondence. This includes the right to receive memos or announcements from or approved for distribution by the residents’ council.
(d) Freedom to participate in and benefit from community services and activities and to achieve the highest possible level of independence, autonomy, and interaction within the community.
(e) Exercise civil and religious liberties. No religious beliefs or practices, and no requirement of attendance at religious services, may be imposed upon any resident.
(f) Present grievances and recommend changes in policies, procedures, and services to the staff of the facility, governing officials, or any other person without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal. This right includes access to ombudsman volunteers and staff and advocates and the right to be a member of, and active in, and to associate with, advocacy or special interest groups or associations.
(g) Freedom from governmental intrusion into the private life of the resident, as provided in s. 23, Art. I of the State Constitution.
(2) The provider shall provide a copy of the bill of rights provided by subsection (1) to each resident at or before the resident’s admission to the facility.
(3) Any violation of the residents’ rights set forth in subsection (1) constitutes grounds for disciplinary action by the office under ss. 651.106 and 651.108.
(4) Any person who submits or reports a complaint concerning a suspected violation of a resident’s rights or concerning services or conditions in a facility or who testifies in any administrative or judicial proceeding arising from such complaint is immune from any civil or criminal liability therefor, unless such person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or if the court finds that there was a complete absence of a justiciable issue of either law or fact raised by the losing party.
(5) The provider may not restrict a resident’s access to the residents’ council.
(6) This section does not supersede any bill of rights provided by law for residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
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