The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
434 7th Street
(707) 269-1330
Fax: (707) 269-1331
ombudsman@a1aa.org
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is mandated in the federal Older Americans Act and the state Older Californians Act, and sponsored by the Area 1 Agency on Aging. It is a community-supported program, built largely of volunteers who are trained and certified to advocate for the rights of residents of skilled nursing and residential care facilities.
The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (OSLTCO) and its local coordinators are responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising the volunteer Ombudsman representatives, who then perform regular on-site visits to long-term care facilities. An “Ombudsman” is a trained and certified advocate.
Ombudsman advocacy roles take two forms: 1) to receive and resolve individual complaints and issues by, or on behalf of, residents and patients of long-term care facilities; and 2) to pursue resident advocacy in the long-term care system, its laws, policies, regulations, and administration through public education and consensus building.
It is the primary responsibility of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to investigate and endeavor to resolve elder abuse complaints made by, or on behalf of, individual residents in long-term care facilities. These facilities include nursing homes, residential care facilities for the elderly, and assisted living facilities.
The local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is overseen by the Area 1 Agency on Aging and is located at 434 7th Street.
To report concerns or complaints about the quality of care residents receive or other problems that affect residents of long-term care facilities, file directly by 1) calling (707) 269-1330, 2) sending an email to: ombudsman@a1aa.org, or 3) calling the Statewide CRISISline at 1-800-231-4024 if immediate attention is needed. The Statewide CRISISline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ombudsman services are free and confidential. Contact the Ombudsman Program for the following resident services:
- Questions or concerns about quality of care
- Questions or concerns about financial abuse
- Suspected physical, mental or emotional abuse of residents
- Witnessing services for Advance Health Care Directives
- Requesting an Ombudsman to attend a resident care plan meeting
- Requesting an Ombudsman to attend a resident or family council meeting
If you are interested in volunteering as an Ombudsman, please click here (pending update).
Links:
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (RCFEs and SNFs)
Vignettes (pending update)
More about the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (pending update)
The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (OSLTCO)
Humboldt Senior Resource Center
Ombudsman Training (pending update)
