When it comes time for a loved one to move into a nursing home, you want assurances that he or she will be safe and receive good care. And fortunately, there are laws in place to help ensure that nursing home residents are given the treatment that they need and deserve. Specifically, the Nursing Home Reform Act, passed in 1987, dictates that elder care patients in nursing homes should receive care that allows them to maintain their highest practical level of psychological, physical and mental well-being.