The research stems from a legal pluralism approach to law which postulates that different levels of law can operate simultaneously in a given situation. The concept is applied to nursing homes in New Brunswick. The research had three phases. A grid of the rights of nursing home residents was first built. Secondly, New Brunswick law was analysed with that grid. Thirdly, administrative policies gathered from nursing homes were also analysed. The law is often silent with respect to the rights of nursing home residents. However, that vacuum is filled by administrative policies which vary from one nursing home to another. Statistical differences are found between nursing homes administered by religious organizations and those administered by non-profit corporations. Recommendations are made to better protect the rights of nursing home residents.
