Quality Long Term Care Ensured by Ombudsmen..

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is a program that helps ensure quality care for residents of skilled nursing and assisted-living facilities. And who else fills these shoes? No one…

The word ombudsman, pronounced “om-budz-man” generally means a friend from the community. The Long Term Care Ombudsman is a specially trained and certified individual who advocates for quality care for the residents of care facilities. In many areas, Ombudsmen are assigned to specific facilities and are on the premises on a weekly basis.

The program derives its authority from the Older Americans Act, and the staff and volunteers are certified by your state Department of Aging. To qualify for certification, an individual must complete hours of initial training, field service and annual continuing education.

In addition to monitoring facilities, the ombudsman program offers various services to residents’ families as well as to the community. What a blessing for all concerned. The program offers pre-placement counseling before a loved one is placed in a care facility, and these sessions can include information about types of facilities as well as what options are available and what services are offered in different facilities. That service can continue after placement in the form of support groups for the families of the residents.

One of the most important services is the identifying, investigating and resolving of complaints made by either the resident or the family of the resident. Ombudsmen also inform residents and their families about resident rights and about services that are available and how those particular services can be obtained.

The program stresses that frail elders have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, to be afforded privacy and to be free from any type of abuse.

All services are free and confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Everyone agrees that freedom and independence of care choices is enhanced by long term care insurance if it was purchased before care was needed. You are encouraged to request your free comparative rate quotes from the online Buyer’s Advocate Alliance, so that you can be prepared.