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When I meet with clients and present them with ways to protect their assets from potential medical costs it is my hope that they never have to use their increased cash benefit value on any long term care costs whatsoever.

Unfortunately some people will spend some time in a long term care medical facility. As a precaution, it is smart to have resources available to you so you and your family know where to go to make sure the best care possible is being provided in a nursing home, assisted living or other medical facility.
It is not only important that your finances are safe, it is more important that you feel safe and at peace as you focus on your care.
This is where a long term care ombudsman can help you if you are ever in this situation. 

What is a long-term care ombudsman?

Long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes and assisted living facilities.

Ombudsmen provide information about how to find a facility and what to do to get quality care. They are trained to resolve problems.

If you want, the ombudsman can assist you with complaints. However, unless you give the ombudsman permission to share your concerns, these matters are kept confidential.

​ Under the federal Older Americans Act, every state is required to have an Ombudsman Program that addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long-term care system.
The ombudsman program is administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).  The network has 8,813 volunteers certified to handle complaints and 1,167 paid staff. Nationally, in 2011 the ombudsman program investigated over 200,463 complaints on behalf of 131,078 individuals and provided information on long-term care to another 288,698 people.

Visit the AoA website for more information.
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Whether through individual contact with residents or systemic advocacy, ombudsmen make a difference in the lives of residents in long-term care facilities everyday.

A Long-Term Care Ombudsman:
  • Resolves complaints made by or for residents of long-term care facilities
  • Educates consumers and long-term care providers about residents' rights and good care practices
  • Promotes community involvement through volunteer opportunities
  • Provides information to the public on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and services, residents' rights and legislative and policy issues
  • Advocates for residents' rights and quality care in nursing homes, personal care, residential care and other long-term care facilities
  • Promotes the development of citizen organizations, family councils and resident councils
  • Long-term care ombudsmen efforts are summarized in the National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS 2010 data)  to include the number of facilities visited, the types of complaints handled and the kinds of complaints filed with ombudsmen. Data has been collected since 1996 and gives a good picture of the extent of ombudsman activities nationally and in every state.

Keep Ombudsman contact info with you and share this info with responsible family members

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Once again, hopefully you will live your whole life without needing any long term medical care in your life. It is still good to have a plan on how you can receive the most attention and protection as you focus on your health in these potential situations. 

For information on how to receive contact info for an ombudsman in your area, click on the links below.

Maryland

Virginia
Maryland Ombudsman Program Page:
Click Here
For more information: Click Here

Pennsylvania

New York

Nationwide

State Specific Ombudsman Information: ​Click Here