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THE LONG-TERM CARE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM
What is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Program?
The
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program resolves the problems of individual residents
in long-term care facilities, assists resident councils, family councils and
citizen organizations, and represents residents’ needs and interests to public
officials.
Why was the program created and when?
Increasing
and widespread public concern about the quality of care in nursing homes and a
Presidential initiative prompted the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
to award five contracts for ombudsman demonstration programs in 1972. By 1978
the federal Older Americans Act required all states to establish a program.
Where is the program today?
The
Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is
responsible for the national program. Each state has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Program operated through, or by, the Agency on Aging. Thus there are some
differences in the program among the states. Today all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam have an Office of
the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Who serves residents as long-term care
ombudsmen?
Each
state program is headed by a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Throughout the
state paid staff and volunteer ombudsmen serve residents. In 2000, there were
almost 1,000 paid ombudsmen and more than 12,000 volunteer ombudsmen nationwide.
What
specific services are provided by long-term care ombudsmen?
| o
Provide information to individuals: |
244,535 |
| o
Investigate complaints: |
231,889 by 137,165 individual complainants |
| o
Work with resident councils: |
15,955 |
| o
Work with family councils: |
5,046 |
|
o
Conduct training for (number of sessions):
.
Ombudsmen:
.
Facility staff:
.
The local community: |
11,408
8,139
11,567 |
|
