Long-term care ombudsman
An independent advocate for residents of nursing homes and other care facilities, who investigates complaints and works to resolve them.
What it means
Every state runs an ombudsman program under federal law, with representatives who visit facilities and take complaints from residents and families.
The ombudsman acts for the resident, follows the resident's wishes, and generally keeps complaints confidential unless permission is given.
They are not a regulator and cannot impose penalties, but they know the rules, the facility, and the licensing body.
Why it matters
Families raising problems directly with a facility are dealing with the organization they depend on, and are often reluctant to press. The ombudsman exists for exactly that asymmetry.
They are also free, independent of the facility, and used far less than they should be.
When you are likely to meet it
- When care in a facility is inadequate.
- When a facility threatens to discharge a resident.
- When a complaint to management has gone nowhere.
How this varies by state
How a state's ombudsman program is organized, and what it can do, are set within federal requirements by the state.
Related terms
Official sources
The authority this page describes, at the agency that publishes it. Sahvelo does not restate a rule from a secondary source.