Long-Term Care Ombudsmen investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long term care facilities. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and personal care homes that serve individuals age 60 and over. Long-Term Care Ombudsmen can also help potential consumers with the process of choosing a facility.

The Louisiana Ombudsman Program wants you to exercise your rights as a resident of a long-term care facility.

Ombudsman Program FAQ

Who are ombudsmen?

Ombudsmen are individuals, serving as either paid staff or as volunteers, who are trained to respond to the problems and needs of residents of nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities.

What do ombudsmen do?

Ombudsmen work to assure that residents receive the best possible care and that they are treated with respect and dignity. Ombudsmen work with residents, their families, facilities, community organizations, and other interested parties to address concerns that affect the lives of residents. Ombudsmen listen, provide information, assist residents in solving problems and help families identify suitable long-term care facilities for loved ones.

What kinds of problems do ombudsmen respond to?

Ombudsmen respond to any problem, complaint or concern a resident may have. Common problems are with the quality of care, food, finances, activities, visitation, and the ability to exercise their rights as a resident or citizen.

Who should contact an ombudsman?

Anyone who has questions or concerns about the care or treatment a resident of a long-term care facility is receiving should contact an ombudsman.

How do you contact an Ombudsman?

Ombudsmen visit the facility regularly. You can talk to the ombudsman during one of these regular visits or you can find the ombudsman who serves your in parish by looking in the chart below.

Ombudsmen services are confidential and free of charge.

NOTE:  All toll-free 1-800 numbers are for from within Louisiana ONLY.  (If calling from outside Louisiana, use the non toll-free hone number, listed below.)

Volunteer Opportunities

Individuals can volunteer to serve with the Louisiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program as Long-Term Care Visitors or as volunteer ombudsmen. If you are interested in volunteering with the program, please contact the ombudsman coordinator for your parish.

Long-Term Care Visitors:

• Complete 6 hours initial training and 6 hours continuing education each year
• Visit weekly with residents in assigned facilities
• Help residents understand their rights
• Provide information about the ombudsman program and refer problems to certified ombudsmen

Volunteer Ombudsmen:

• Complete a more rigorous training including four days of classroom training, a written examination, a 12-hour internship in a nursing home and 15 hours continuing education each year
• Visit weekly with residents in assigned facilities
• Investigate and resolve problems
  

Links:

For information about Nursing Homes
www.nccnhr.org (consumer information)
www.medicare.gov (Nursing Home Comparison site)

For information regarding alternatives
www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/page.asp?id=105&detal=3487 (Elderly and Disabled Waiver
www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/page.asp?id=105&detail=3487 (Adult Day Health Care Waiver)

For information about choosing an assisted living facility:
www.ccal.org Consumer consortium on Assisted Living
www.alfa.org Assisted Living Federation of America
www.aahsa.org American Association of Homes and Services for the Aged
www.nhccnys.org Nursing Home Community Coalition of New York State

For information about culture change:
http://www.pioneernetwork.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/Content.Display/Page/Home.cfm
www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/page.asp?ID=112&Detail=4361 (efforts in LA)

Updated 5/9/2005