(a)

1. (1) Each resident admitted to the facility will be encouraged and assisted to exercise constitutional and legal rights as a resident and a citizen including the right to vote, and the facility shall make accommodations to ensure free exercise of these rights.

2. (2) Residents may voice grievances or recommend changes in policies or services to facility staff or to outside representatives of their choice, free from:

   1. (A) Restraint;
   2. (B) Coercion;
   3. (C) Discrimination; or
   4. (D) Reprisal.

(c)

1. (1) Complaints or suggestions made to the facility's staff shall be responded to within ten (10) days.
2. (2) Documentations of such response will be maintained by the facility administrator or his or her designee.

(e)

1. (1) A representative resident council shall be established in each facility.

2. (2) The resident council's duties shall include:

   1. (A) Review of policies and procedures required for implementation of resident rights;
   2. (B) Recommendation of changes or additions in the facility's policies and procedures, including programming;
   3. (C) Representation of residents in their complaints to the Office of Long-Term Care or any other person or agency; and
   4. (D) Assist in identification of problems and orderly resolution of same.

(f)

1. (1) The facility administrator shall designate a staff coordinator and provide suitable accommodations within the facility for the resident's council.
2. (2) The staff coordinator shall assist the council in scheduling regular meetings and preparing written reports of meetings for dissemination to residents of the facility.
3. (3) The staff coordinator may be excluded from any meeting of the council.

(g)

1. (1) The facility shall inform residents’ families of the right to establish a family council within the facility.
2. (2) The establishment of such council shall be encouraged by the facility.

3. (3) This family council shall:

   1. (A) Have the same duties and responsibilities as the resident council; and
   2. (B) Be assisted by the staff coordinator designed to assist the resident council.