A statistical and legal analysis of California nursing home admission agreements indicated that these agreements limit the autonomy of nursing home residents in important ways, including constraints on the resident's right to make health care decisions and other basic personal choices, entitlement to due process or grievance procedures, and the right to informed financial decision-making. In addition, the agreements require residents to consent to terms that clearly violate state or federal statutes or regulations, or are questionable in terms of public policy.