How to apply for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Who it's for

A Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for anyone who lives in a nursing home, assisted living community, or board-and-care home — and for their family. If you or a loved one is a resident, the Ombudsman will listen to concerns about care quality, safety, dignity, resident rights, billing, or a discharge or eviction notice, and then work directly with the facility to resolve them. They can sit in on care-plan meetings, explain your rights as a resident, and escalate serious problems to state regulators. The service is independent of the facility, costs nothing, and the Ombudsman works only for the resident — never the home. This is the program to call before you tour a facility, when a placement is being arranged, or any time something feels wrong in a current placement.

What you'll need

• The name and address of the long-term care facility involved
• Any notices you have received (care plan, billing statement, discharge or transfer notice)
• A written or verbal summary of the concern you want resolved

Where to apply

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need the name and address of the long-term care facility involved, any notices you have received (care plan, billing statement, discharge or transfer notice), a written or verbal summary of the concern you want resolved — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Step by step

1. Check that this program applies to you. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman serves residents of nursing homes, assisted living communities, and board-and-care homes — and their families. If you or a loved one lives in, or is moving into, one of these facilities, this free advocate is available to you.
2. Gather the name and address of the long-term care facility involved.
3. Collect any notices or documents related to your concern — such as a care plan, billing statement, or a discharge or transfer notice.
4. Prepare a brief summary of the concern you want resolved. This can be written or verbal. You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out.
5. Contact your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Depending on your state, you can apply online or by phone. California residents can call 1-800-231-4024. Residents of Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas can call 1-800-677-1116. The online option is also available in all of these states.
6. Share your concern with the Ombudsman. They will listen, explain the resident's rights, and work directly with the facility to help resolve the issue. For serious problems, they can escalate to state regulators.

What to expect: After you reach out, a local Long-Term Care Ombudsman — who is independent of the facility and works only for the resident — will follow up to learn more about your concern. Processing and response times vary, so ask the Ombudsman for an estimate when you first make contact. There is no formal renewal for this program. You can contact the Ombudsman any time a new concern comes up in a long-term care setting. Keep in mind that this service is for residents of nursing homes, assisted living communities, and board-and-care homes, and their families. If you currently live independently at home, the program does not apply right now — but it is a valuable resource to remember if a long-term care placement is ever considered in the future.

Renewals

none (contact the Ombudsman whenever a concern arises in a long-term care facility)