Vol 30, No. 6, #11. What is the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program?.

• Author: Author: Charlie Simineo

Wyoming Bar Journal

2007.

Vol 30, No. 6, #11.

What is the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program?

Wyoming Bar JournalVol 30, No. 6, #11Issue: December, 2007Author: Charlie SimineoWhat is the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program?The primary duty of a Long-Term Care Ombudsman is protecting the rights of individuals by investigating and resolving problems and grievances, providing information and working with institutions, organizations and agencies to increase their responsiveness to the people they serve. The ombudsman acts on behalf of persons who need assistance in resolving issues relative to long-term care services.

A Long-Term Care Ombudsman serves the recipients of long-term care services. The providers include all home and community based providers, such as home health, hospice, assisted living, boarding homes and nursing facilities.

Recipients of long-term care services sometimes have little or no contact with the outside world and some may feel they lack control over their own lives. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman serves as a recipient advocate and assists in the resolution of problems and concerns. The goal of the Ombudsman Program is to improve the quality of life for long-term care recipients.

What does the Ombudsman do?

- Receives, investigates and attempts to resolve problems or complaints affecting recipients of long-term care facilities.

- Answers questions and provides information and referral about long-term care, related services, and Medicare/Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse.

- Promotes resident, family and community involvement in long-term care.

- Promotes community education and awareness of the needs of long-term care recipients.

- Coordinates efforts with other agencies and organizations concerned with long-term care.

- Identifies issues and problem areas in long-term care and recommends needed changes.

- Makes referrals to appropriate agencies and services. Referrals often include attorneys, banks, Social Security Administration, Department of Health, and Department of Family Services.

What kind of problems does the Ombudsman handle?

- Problems related to the rights of recipients of long-term care providers as citizens and as recipients.

- Concerns about the care or treatment provided by long-term care providers such as admissions, health services, drugs, food, resident funds and transfer or discharge.

Who does the...