Which term best describes someone who receives health care services and may live in a long-term care facility?

• A. Customer
• B. Client
• C. Patient
• D. Resident

Answer: (D)

In long-term care, the language used to describe people who receive ongoing health care services in a facility emphasizes their living environment and rights. The term that fits best is resident because it shows that the person lives there and receives continuous care as part of daily life, reflecting a home-like, person-centered approach.

This framing supports autonomy, dignity, and residents’ rights within the facility. Other terms convey different ideas: customer suggests a market transaction; client is broader and not specific to living in the facility; patient is tied more to acute medical care and hospitals, not the ongoing, residential nature of long-term care.

So, resident is the most appropriate term.