“Aberdeen’s volunteers advocating for Florida’s long-term care residents answer your questions regarding the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents in long-term care facilities.”
By: Aberdeen’s Certified Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Sam Golden, Pauline Ogus, Ronnie Ostrow and Martin Weissman
Q: My father is in an adult family care home. An old friend of his who lives near the facility visits him regularly. The owner of the facility says that every time the visit is over, my father gets agitated and angry. Can I write a letter to the owner telling him not to let this family member visit with my father?
A: Your father has the right to visit with whomever he chooses, even if the visitor makes him agitated or upset. No one can place limitations on who can or cannot visit your father other than your father himself. If he were not capable of expressing whether or not he desires a particular visitor, the decision would then fall to his Power of Attorney or guardian.
Florida Statute states that visitations for residents of adult family care homes can take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at a minimum. However, special accommodations can be made if necessary.
Q: When my brother went into an assisted living facility, the administrator said that the facility had to be the one who took care of his money. He was an accountant for over 30 years. Are they allowed to do that?
A: According to the Residents’ Bill of Rights, residents have the right to “manage his/her own financial affairs unless the resident (or the resident’s legal representative) authorizes the administrator of the facility to provide safekeeping for funds.”
If your father has the ability and desire to manage his own money, he should be allowed to do so.
Ms. Stania Rodriquez is the District Ombudsman Manager for Palm Beach County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
To ask for an ombudsman’s assistance, learn more about the program, or to become a volunteer ombudsman, call Stania at the Palm Beach County District Office at 561.837.5038 or toll-free at 1-888- 831-0404.
