An ombudsman is someone who can help you resolve problems with long-term care facilities. This professional can help address complaints. The formal grievance process must be in place at all nursing homes. However, some residents may be afraid to raise concerns for fear of being retaliated. The ombudsman can develop a trusting relationship with residents. A ombudsman's impartiality is what makes him/her more open to hearing the concerns of residents.
Responsibilities
The Long-Term Car Ombudsman provides services to the residents, staff, and residents of nursing homes. This includes investigating complaints and making recommendations for changes. The ombudsman helps residents and their families make informed choices. They provide assistance to residents, encourage transparency in long-term care, and educate the public about the needs of long term care residents.
An independent volunteer advocate, the ombudsman investigates residents' complaints and then resolves them by professional mediation. He works with residents, staff, and governmental agencies to improve the quality of care. The ombudsman also offers hundreds of consultations free of charge to long-term care facilities. This is why it is so important that he does this job. The Ombudsman can help with complaints regarding admissions and transfers as well as discharges.
Finance
The LTC Ombudsman Program covers residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and B&C homes. Its mission is to educate residents about their rights and to improve their living conditions. The office of the ombudsman also provides training to staff at B&C homes and nursing facilities on how to deal with complaints and improve resident care. In 2013, 70% visited nursing homes on a daily or quarterly basis. These numbers are down from over half in 2003.
Many organizations and groups have expressed concern at the lack of funding. Governor Christie announced that he would conduct a study on the state's long term care system. However, the bill does not discuss the funding level. At the moment, half of the state’s 1,500 adult care facilities and nursing homes employ Ombudsman personnel. The Ombudsman program is the only state program that has a dedicated budget, but Governor Cuomo backed the program during his State of the State address. Sadly, New Yorkers continue to die in nursing homes.
Frequency
Although long-term care ombudsmen often visit facilities, there is not a uniform standard for the frequency of visits. While the national average is 85 complaints per 1,000 beds, the average is closer to 67. The District of Columbia's range is between 14 and 743 complains per thousand beds. The study also looked into the relationship of commute distance and complaint frequency. With the exception of New York, the lower visitation rate is constant across all states.
These citizen volunteers are specially trained and spend two to three hour a week advocating for residents. These volunteer Ombudsmen report to New York State Ombudsman and are responsible of helping residents in the areas they serve. They serve as a liaison between residents and facilities, and they provide information, advice, and support when residents need it.
Access by phone
Previously, residents of long-term care facilities could only contact the Ombudsman in person, but that has changed. While in-person visits may now be possible, the Ombudsman can still be reached by phone or email. However, in the event of an outbreak, these might need to be delayed or restricted. To get help, you can contact the Long-Term care Ombudsman by phone or email. Keep in mind, however, that it may take up to two to three business day for a response.
The LTC residents receive assistance from the state long-term health care ombudsman, who serves as an advocate. This office assists residents in understanding their rights and how they can best be obtained. New York's State Office for the Aging houses the office. NYSOFA reports that there are over 1,500 people who live in LTC facilities. The ombudsman provides assistance in a number of ways to these people.