In Georgia, regulations related to resident rights in assisted living facilities, including the right to privacy and communication, are generally governed by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH). The relevant regulations can be found in the Rules and Regulations for Assisted Living Communities, codified under the Georgia Administrative Code. Specifically:
Georgia Administrative Code 111-8-63-.24, titled Resident Rights, outlines several key protections for residents, including their rights to privacy and communication. This code stipulates that residents must be allowed private communication via telephone and other means, without unnecessary interference from the facility.
While the Georgia regulations do not explicitly mention modern forms of communication like video calls (Zoom, FaceTime, etc.), these rights are interpreted under the broader umbrella of private communication that is guaranteed to residents. Therefore, facilities are expected to respect residents' rights to use current technologies to communicate with family and friends, just as they would for phone calls or letters.
To directly quote from the Georgia Administrative Code 111-8-63-.24:
(1)(e): "Each resident shall have the right to unimpeded, private, and uncensored communication, including… the right to send and receive unopened correspondence and the right to have access to a telephone to make and receive private calls."
This protection is extended to various forms of communication, including emerging technologies like video calls, under the general framework of ensuring privacy in resident communications. Although the regulation does not specifically list video calls, it supports the expectation that facilities will allow such communication as part of a resident's right to unimpeded and private interactions.