Which regulation is in place to protect the confidentiality of resident's records?

The regulation that protects the confidentiality of residents' records is HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA was established to provide privacy standards that protect patients' medical records and other personal health information. This act sets rules on who may access personal health information and ensures that both healthcare providers and organizations maintain the confidentiality and security of that information.

In the context of assisted living facilities, HIPAA is particularly relevant as it establishes a framework for how resident records are managed, promoting the residents' rights to privacy regarding their health information. This includes stringent guidelines on the sharing, managing, and storing of these records, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information.

The other options, although they pertain to confidentiality in different contexts, do not focus on health records in the same manner as HIPAA. HITECH is primarily concerned with the notification of breaches and further strengthens privacy protections established by HIPAA. FERPA deals with the privacy of student education records, while SOX pertains to corporate governance and financial reporting rather than health information privacy. Thus, HIPAA is specifically tailored to the protection of resident records within healthcare settings, making it the correct answer.