Are people in nursing homes called residents?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), federal law mandates that facilities promote and protect the rights of each individual, and this is reinforced by using the respectful term 'resident.' The distinction is a vital part of modern elder care that emphasizes a person's dignity and self-determination. This guide explores why people in nursing homes are called residents, and the difference between this term and 'patient.'