481—57.37 (135C) Residents’ rights. Each resident shall be encouraged and assisted throughout the resident’s period of stay, to exercise the resident’s rights as a resident and as a citizen and may voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to administrative staff or to outside representatives of the resident’s choice, free from interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal. (II)
	   57.37(1) The facility shall provide ongoing opportunities for residents to be aware of and to exercise their rights as residents. Residents shall be kept informed of issues or pending decisions of the facility that affect them and their views shall be solicited prior to action. (II)
	   57.37(2) The facility shall implement a written procedure for registering and resolving grievances and recommendations by residents or their responsible party. The procedure shall ensure protection of the resident from any form of reprisal or intimidation. The written procedure shall include:
	      a.    	 Designation of an employee responsible for handling grievances and recommendations. (II)
	      b.    	 A method of investigating and assessing the validity of a grievance or recommendation. (II)
	      c.    	 Methods of resolving grievances. (II)
	      d.    	 Methods of recording grievances and actions taken. (II)
	   57.37(3) The facility shall post in a prominent area the name, telephone number, and address of the ombudsman, survey agency, local law enforcement agency, and certified volunteer long-term care ombudsman and the text of Iowa Code section 135C.46 to provide to residents a further course of redress. (II)
[ARC 1205C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14]