§ 102.003. RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY.
(a) An elderly individual has all the rights, benefits, responsibilities, and privileges granted by
the constitution and laws of this state and the United States, except where lawfully restricted.
The elderly individual has the right to be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, and
reprisal in exercising these civil rights.
(b) An elderly individual has the right to be treated with dignity and respect for the personal
integrity of the individual, without regard to race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability,
marital status, or source of payment. This means that the elderly individual: (1) has the right to
make the individual's own choices regarding the individual's personal affairs, care, benefits, and
services; (2) has the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and (3) if protective
measures are required, has the right to designate a guardian or representative to ensure the right
to quality stewardship of the individual's affairs.
(c) An elderly individual has the right to be free from physical and mental abuse, including
corporal punishment or physical or chemical restraints that are administered for the purpose of
discipline or convenience and not required to treat the individual's medical symptoms. A person
providing services may use physical or chemical restraints only if the use is authorized in writing
by a physician or the use is necessary in an emergency to protect the elderly individual or others
from injury. A physician's written authorization for the use of restraints must specify the
circumstances under which the restraints may be used and the duration for which the restraints
may be used. Except in an emergency, restraints may only be administered by qualified medical
personnel.
(d) A mentally retarded elderly individual with a court-appointed guardian of the person may
participate in a behavior modification program involving use of restraints or adverse stimuli only
with the informed consent of the guardian.
(e) An elderly individual may not be prohibited from communicating in the individual's native
language with other individuals or employees for the purpose of acquiring or providing any type
of treatment, care, or services.
(f) An elderly individual may complain about the individual's care or treatment. The complaint
may be made anonymously or communicated by a person designated by the elderly individual.
The person providing service shall promptly respond to resolve the complaint. The person
providing services may not discriminate or take other punitive action against an elderly
individual who makes a complaint.
(g) An elderly individual is entitled to privacy while attending to personal needs and a private
place for receiving visitors or associating with other individuals unless providing privacy would
infringe on the rights of other individuals. This right applies to medical treatment, written
communications, telephone conversations, meeting with family, and access to resident councils.
An elderly person may send and receive unopened mail, and the person providing services shall
ensure that the individual's mail is sent and delivered promptly. If an elderly individual is
married and the spouse is receiving similar services, the couple may share a room.
(h) An elderly individual may participate in activities of social, religious, or community groups
unless the participation interferes with the rights of other persons.
(i) An elderly individual may manage the individual's personal financial affairs. The elderly
individual may authorize in writing another person to manage the individual's money. The
elderly individual may choose the manner in which the individual's money is managed, including
a money management program, a representative payee program, a financial power of attorney, a
trust, or a similar method, and the individual may choose the least restrictive of these methods. A
person designated to manage an elderly individual's money shall do so in accordance with each
applicable program policy, law, or rule. On request of the elderly individual or the individual's
representative, the person designated to manage the elderly individual's money shall make
available the related financial records and provide an accounting of the money. An elderly
individual's designation of another person to manage the individual's money does not affect the
individual's ability to exercise another right described by this chapter. If an elderly individual is
unable to designate another person to manage the individual's affairs and a guardian is
designated by a court, the guardian shall manage the individual's money in accordance with the
Probate Code and other applicable laws.
(j) An elderly individual is entitled to access to the individual's personal and clinical records.
These records are confidential and may not be released without the elderly individual's consent,
except the records may be released: (1) to another person providing services at the time the
elderly individual is transferred; or (2) if the release is required by another law.
(k) A person providing services shall fully inform an elderly individual, in language that the
individual can understand, of the individual's total medical condition and shall notify the
individual whenever there is a significant change in the person's medical condition.
(l) An elderly individual may choose and retain a personal physician and is entitled to be fully
informed in advance about treatment or care that may affect the individual's well-being.
(m) An elderly individual may participate in an individual plan of care that describes the
individual's medical, nursing, and psychological needs and how the needs will be met.
(n) An elderly individual may refuse medical treatment after the elderly individual: (1) is advised
by the person providing services of the possible consequences of refusing treatment; and (2)
acknowledges that the individual clearly understands the consequences of refusing treatment.
(o) An elderly individual may retain and use personal possessions, including clothing and
furnishings, as space permits. The number of personal possessions may be limited for the health
and safety of other individuals.
(p) An elderly individual may refuse to perform services for the person providing services.