Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Oregon's citizens living in nursing facilities, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes deserve quality care. They should enjoy freedom from abuse and neglect and the freedom to make choices about their care. The mission of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is to enhance the quality of life, improve the level of care, protect the individual's rights and promote the dignity of each Oregon citizen residing in a long-term care facility.

Description:
Certified Ombudsman
Resident-Centered Advocacy

The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman responds to a wide variety of resident concerns, including problems with resident care, medications, billing, lost property, meal quality, evictions, guardianships, dignity and respect, and care plans. The program serves residents in nursing facilities, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes.
Complaints are investigated and resolved by staff and a cadre of trained and certified volunteer ombudsmen assigned to facilities throughout the state. Beyond complaint investigation and resolution, ombudsmen strive to be the eyes and ears of residents and to advocate for improvements in their quality of life and quality of care.

Consultations


The program also provides hundreds of consultations each year to individuals struggling with the complexities of the long-term care system.

Friendly Visitation

In addition to complaint investigation and resolution services provided by certified ombudsmen, a separate group of volunteers serve as friendly visitors in certain locations around the state. These volunteers´ sole purpose is to visit individual residents in an effort to reduce isolation and loneliness

History:
The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is an independent state agency that serves long-term care facility residents through complaint investigation, resolution and advocacy for improvement in resident care. Program staffing includes a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, seven other full time staff members, and a statewide network of committed volunteers. The program is monitored by the Long-Term Care Advisory Committee, appointed by the Governor and legislative leadership.

Contact person: Kathy Walter, Program Administrator, (phone), (email)

Address:

PO Box 463 Winchester, OR 97495

Web Site: http://www.oregon.gov/LTCO/

Last updated on January 13, 2009