County proclaims residents’ rights month

On Oct. 20, 2026, Larimer County commissioners declared October 2026 National Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month and encouraged community members to take part in observances. The proclamation says 1.2 million individuals live in 14,700 nursing homes in the U.S., and over 1 million individuals live in 32,200 assisted living/residential care facilities; it cites the federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 as guaranteeing residents’ rights to dignity and autonomy and says the “Join Us at the Table” theme highlights food, mealtime and community. Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Amber Franzel said residents’ dining preferences are not always respected and local ombudsmen work with residents, or on their behalf with consent, to seek resolutions that restore dignity and respect their preferences.

Motion carried, 2-0.