Rights of Persons Living in Residential Facilities that Provide Mental Health Treatment

All Residents Have The Right:

To be treated with courtesy and with full respect for their individuality and dignity, and to recognition that their  personality, needs and aspirations are not determinable on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis;

To have their privacy assured and protected and to preserve the basic rhythm of their lives to the greatest extent possible in light of their treatment needs;

To nutritious food in adequate amounts;

To access  or provision of adequate professional medical care;

To a level of sanitation, ventilation and light that meets health standards; 

To a reasonable amount of space per person in sleeping areas;

To a reasonable opportunity for physical exercise and recreation, including access to outdoor activities;

To an area for private conversation with other recipients and family and friends;

To an area for private telephone conversations;

To areas that assure privacy for personal hygiene, counseling and physical examinations;

To opportunities for appropriate involvement in community activities;

To common areas with space and equipment sufficient to permit patients comfortably to socialize, relax, or engage in leisure time activity;

To a schedule of available therapeutic, rehabilitative and recreational activities;

To confidentiality and to access to their record;

To a secure and accessible storage area of adequate size to accommodate their personal belongings;

To exercise their religion;

To freedom of association and communication including visitors;

To communicate by mail and by telephone;

To receive individualized treatment;

To exercise daily;

To recreate outdoors;

To have access to activities necessary to the achievement of their individualized treatment goals;

To file grievances regarding possible loss of basic rights, or any other applicable law or regulation; any questionable or inappropriate treatment or method or any policy or procedure or action, or lack thereof, of the facility.

If you have questions, or believe your rights have been violated, contact:
Disability Rights Maine
160 Capitol Street, Suite 4
Augusta, Me  04330
207.626.2774 or 1.800.452.1948
advocate@drme.org or drme.org

This Brochure Was Created By
The Consumer Council System of Maine