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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 who are elderly or disabled. Ombudsmen also assist consumers and potential consumers with the process of choosing a facility.
Ombudsman Program FAQ
Who are ombudsmen?
Ombudsmen are individuals 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 protect and promote the rights of residents of long-term care facilities. 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 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 view the list of Ombudsman Coordinators below.
Ombudsmen services are confidential and free of charge.
Service Providers by Regions and Parishes Served
NOTE: Some of the toll-free 800 numbers below are within Louisiana ONLY. If calling from outside Louisiana, you may need to use the non-toll-free phone numbers or contact the State Office via its toll-free number: (866) 632-0922. The State Office will ask the local office to contact you.
ALEXANDRIA REGION
Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, and Winn
Carolyn Smith, Ombudsman Coordinator
Cenla Area Agency on Aging
Post Office Box 13027
Alexandria, LA 71315
Office: (318) 484-2260 or (800) 454-9573
Fax: (318) 484-2266
carolynsmith@cenlaaging.org
BATON ROUGE REGION
Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Lafourche, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana
Peggy Essick, Ombudsman Coordinator
Capital Area Agency on Aging
Post Office Box 66038
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
Office: (225) 928-8775 or (800) 833-9883
Work Cell: (225) 229-5431
Fax: (225) 922-2528
pessick@capitalaaa.org
LAFAYETTE REGION
Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion
Dana Adams, Ombudsman Coordinator
Cajun Area Agency on Aging
Post Office Drawer 60850
Lafayette, LA 70596-0850
Office: (337) 572-8940 or (800) 738-2256
Fax: (337) 572-8974
d.adams@lusfiber.net
LAKE CHARLES REGION
Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vernon
Charles Campbell, Ombudsman Coordinator
Calcasieu Council on Aging
3950 Gerstner Memorial Blvd.
Lake Charles, LA 70607
Office: (337) 312-1059 or (800) 223-5872
Work Cell: (337) 794-4235
Fax: (337) 474-6563
ccampbell@calcoa.org
MONROE REGION
Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll
Anna Horne, Ombudsman Coordinator
Cenla Area Agency on Aging
Post Office Box 13027
Alexandria, LA 71315
Office: (318) 387-0535 ext. 202 or (800) 454-9573
Fax: (318) 322-0545
annahorne@cenlaaging.org
NEW ORLEANS REGION
Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany
Tanya Hayes, Ombudsman Coordinator
Capital Area Agency on Aging
Post Office Box 66038
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
Office: (504) 909-0672 or (800) 833-9883
Work Cell: (504) 909-0672
Fax: (225) 922-2528
thayes@capitalaaa.org
SHREVEPORT REGION
Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, and Webster
Casandra Cesare, Ombudsman Coordinator
Caddo Council on Aging
1700 Buckner St., Suite 240
Shreveport, LA 71101
Office: (318) 676-7900 or (800) 256-3003
Work Cell: (318) 317-9271
Fax: (318) 676-7911
ccesare@caddocoa.org
STATE OFFICE
Rosa Walton, State Ombudsman
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office
Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs
P.O. Box 61
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0061
Phone: (225) 342-9723
Toll-Free: (866) 632-0922
StateOmbudsman@la.gov
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VOLUNTEER?
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE ORLEANS, SHREVEPORT, AND ALEXANDRIA REGIONS
CALL (504) 782-6640 OR CLICK HERE → VOLUNTEER OMBUDSMAN APPLICATION
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Click Here for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Brochure
For information regarding Residents' Rights:
Nursing Home Residents' Bill of Rights (State Laws)
Nursing Home Residents' Rights (Federal Regulations)
ARCP Resident Rights (State Law)
For information regarding Nursing Homes:
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
Nursing Home Comparison Site
Long-Term Care Community Coalition
For information about culture change in nursing homes:
Pioneer Network
For more information regarding the regulatory agency that enforces compliance in health care facilities:
Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section
Health Standards Complaint Form
Complaint Form can be submitted to: HSSComplaints@la.gov
For information regarding alternatives:
Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Aging and Adult Services
- Elderly and Disabled Waiver
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
- Adult Day Health Care Waiver
- Personal Care Services
For information regarding Assisted Living facilities:
Louisiana Assisted Living Association (LALA)
Argentum
For information regarding Long-Term Care Insurance:
Louisiana Department of Insurance
For questions about this webpage, please contact the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at StateOmbudsman@la.gov
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