A long-term care Ombudsman is a volunteer who visits with nursing home residents on a regular basis to help give them a voice, help solve problems, and educate them on their rights.
Long Term Care Ombudsmen are volunteers serving residents of nursing homes and residential care facilities to provide assistance with problems or complaints. Ombudsmen help when residents or family members have concerns about the rights of older consumers receiving long-term care; quality of care or treatment from a long-term care service provider; appeals regarding transfers, discharges, discontinuance or changes in services; and billing and charges, including those covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen complete extensive training and are assigned to specific long-term care facilities, where they spend quality time getting to know the needs of residents. Ombudsmen form bonds with residents and work to resolve concerns about care before they become crises.
These valuable volunteers champion resident rights and act as liaisons between facility staff and residents. They also provide a vital link between residents and the outside world.
Would you like to be a Long-Term Care Ombudsman?
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult and lonely time for older adults in long-term care facilities. Now, more than ever, they need someone checking on their well-being and speaking up on their behalf. If you’re interested in becoming a Long-Term Care Ombudsman, we provide online training that will teach you how to safely visit a care facility and advocate for older adults.
Ombudsmen learn many things — communication skills, state and federal regulations, ethics, complaint handling, mediation, problem-solving and observation skills.
Be The Voice — speak for those who can’t.