As the mayor, Frank Picozzi gets called on to recognize special events, such as Mary Gatta's 100th birthday that he helped celebrate with residents of Greenwood Terrace, the opening of new businesses and achievements of individuals who have made Warwick proud including the life saving actions of Captain Andrew Sisson of the Warwick Fire Department who while on off-duty helped save the life of a man who had been surfing..

But it’s not that frequent he issues a proclamation of national significance.

That wasn’t lost on a recent gathering in City Hall as Picozzi declared National Long-Term Care Residents’ Right Month. Picozzi was the only Rhode Island municipal or state official to issue a proclamation.

Joanne Leonard, chief operations officer of the Alliance for Better Long Term Care, said Warwick is a leader in bringing attention to the rights of long term nursing home and assisted living tenants. Nationally 1.3 million are living in 15,600 nursing homes and another more than another 8 million are residents of 28,900 assisted living facilities.

In Warwick, 612 residents live in nursing homes and another 903 are residents of assisted living facilities.

 Founded in 1979 by the late Roberta Hawkins, the Alliance for Better Long Term Care protects the rights of elderly and disabled living in long term care settings. It also works to protect those receiving health care or hospice services. Hawkins was instrumental in housing the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program as part of the alliance.

The ombudsman is a public official responsible for investigating citizens’ complaints. The program is contracted through the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs and run by ombudsman Kathleen Heren.

In his proclamation, Picozzi honors and celebrates long term care residents who recognize “their rich individuality” and reaffirm their right to vote and participate politically “including their to have a say in their care.”  Rights of nursing home and assisted living residents as defined by the ombudsman include the right to be fully informed of available services, facility rules, address and phone number of the ombudsman, to survey reports and nursing home plans of correction, advance plans of change in rooms, assistance if a sensatory impairment exists and a right to receive information in a language they understand. Other rights listed are the right to complain, participate in one’s own care, to privacy and confidentiality, to dignity, respect and freedom, to visits and to make independent choices. Also spelled out by the ombudsman are rights during transfers and discharges. 

Picozzi issued the proclamation declaring National Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month in mid-October.