Long-Term Care Nursing Home Ombudsmen
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a federal program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents of long-term care facilities including nursing homes, assisted and enriched living facilities, adult care facilities and family type homes for adults.
Citizen volunteers called ombudsmen visit facilities on a weekly basis to assist residents in working out any concerns they may have with the facility they live in. Ombudsmen are caring individuals, often retired professionals, who are trained to understand the issues of facility residents and to be able to find solutions to issues ranging from the very simple to the seemingly complex. Ombudsmen understand the regulations and operating procedures of long-term care facilities and aim to work cooperatively with staff to achieve the highest possible quality of life for facility residents.
Some concerns and problems your ombudsman can help you with:
- Residents' rights
- Residents' care
- Financial concerns
- Food service
- Administrative policies
- Medical services
- Suspected neglect, mistreatment or abuse
- Resident/staff member misunderstandings
Ombudsmen for Broome and Delaware Counties are available by calling Action for Older Persons at 607-722-1251. The service is free and strictly confidential.
For more information, visit the New York State Office for Long-Term Care at www.ombudsman.state.ny.us or the Broome County Office for Aging, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
Ombudsman (om' budz' man) - noun - A person who investigates complaints, reports findings, and mediates fair settlements, especially between an individual consumer and an institution or organization. [Swedish for 'citizen advocate']
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