An ombudsman is someone who can help you resolve problems with long-term care facilities. Both the complainant and the ombudsman can benefit from their assistance. While all nursing homes must have a formal grievance process in place, residents may be hesitant to speak up about their concerns, for fear of being retaliated by staff. The ombudsman can develop a trusting relationship with residents. In addition, an ombudsman is seen as impartial and more likely listen to residents' concerns.
Responsibilities
Long-Term Care Ombudsman works to improve the lives of residents, nursing homes, and the public. The ombudsman's role is to empower residents and their families to make informed choices. They respond to resident complaints, promote transparency in the long-term care industry, and educate the community about the needs of long-term care residents.
The ombudsman is an independent, volunteer advocate who investigates complaints from residents and resolves them through professional mediation. He works with residents and staff to improve the care quality. He offers free consultations to longterm care facilities. The ombudsman is able to handle complaints regarding admissions, transfers, discharges.
Funding
LTC Ombudsman Program residents of nursing and assisted living facilities as well as B&C homes are covered. Its mission is to educate residents about their rights and to improve their living conditions. The office's ombudsman trains staff in B&C homes and nursing centers on how to handle complaints, and how to improve resident care. In 2013, 70% visited nursing homes on a daily or quarterly basis. These numbers have declined from more than half in 2003.
Many organizations and groups have expressed concern at the lack of funding. Governor Christie has announced a study of the state's long-term care system, but the funding level is not discussed in the bill. Today, only half of 1,500 state nursing homes and adult care centers have Ombudsman staff. The Ombudsman budget is the only state program. Governor Cuomo however supported the program during the State of the State address. Sadly, New Yorkers continue to die in nursing homes.
Frequency
Although long-term care ombudsmen often visit facilities, there is not a uniform standard for the frequency of visits. Nationally, 85 complaints are per 1,000 beds. However, the average is closer than 67. The District of Columbia's range is between 14 and 743 complains per thousand beds. The study also looked at the relationship between commute distance and complaint frequency. With the exception of New York, the lower visitation rate is constant across all states.
State-level ombudsman programs employ specially trained citizen volunteers who spend two to three hours each week advocating on behalf of residents. These volunteer Ombudsmen report to New York State Ombudsman and are responsible of helping residents in the areas they serve. They act as a liaison between residents of facilities and residents.
Access by phone
The Ombudsman could not be reached in person by residents of long-term care facilities. However, that is now possible. However, in-person visits can be made, although they might be delayed or limited in case of an epidemic. The Long-Term Car Ombudsman can be reached by telephone or email. Remember that you might have to wait up until three to four business days before receiving a response.
The LTC residents are served by the state long-term caregiver ombudsman as an advocate and resource. This office helps residents understand and obtain their rights. New York's State Office for the Aging houses the office. According to NYSOFA, there are more than 1,500 residents living in LTC facilities. The ombudsman assists these individuals in many ways.