October is “Residents’ Rights Month,” an annual event designated by Consumer Voice to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities. Residents’ Rights Month is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the awareness of dignity, respect, and the rights of each resident.
This 2025 theme for the month is, “Stand with Me”. This month highlights the importance of listening to residents who live in our country’s nursing home, assisted living and board and care facilities.
The Ombudsman Program would like people to take this month that offers an excellent opportunity to re-affirm our commitment in the community to resident’s rights and to honor long-term care residents by encouraging people, groups and organizations to participate in nursing home activities, by visiting residents and getting to know them because most of these residents are the living history of our communities.
Residents have the right to selfdetermination and to use their voice to make their own choices. This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme, Stand with Me, highlights the importance of solidarity and support for residents who stand up and advocate for their rights, as well as the value of encouraging the community to join residents in sharing their voices.
If you, or someone you know, would like to become a volunteer ombudsman to advocate for quality of life and care, contact Southern Oklahoma Development Association (SODA) Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Supervisors Tiffany Wingfield at 580-775-7478 or Gina Smith at 580-775-7794 or Senior Info. Line 1-800-211-2116 or write to P.O. Box 709 Durant, OK. 74702. The Ombudsman Supervisors are available to speak to your group or organization upon request.