Senior Center closes on Labor Day
By
Suzanne Hopkins-
Ombudsman Program
The Ombudsman provides a voice for consumers of long-term care. These consumers include residents of nursing homes, residential care facilities, and adult care homes as well as recipients of “in-home” services.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is mandated by the Older Americans Act and is coordinated by the Ohio Department of Aging. There presently are 12 Regional Ombudsman Programs in Ohio. Each Regional Program is responsible for the counties located within its specific Planning and Service Area (PSA). The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. (PSA7), located at Rio Grande, Ohio, administers the Ombudsman Program for the our region.
The Ombudsman Program’s primary role is to investigate and resolve complaints concerning long-term care facilities and service providers in an effort to improve the quality of life for long-term care consumers. Complaints may encompass concerns about nursing care, client rights, food, financial and environmental issues, etc. All communications with the ombudsman are confidential and there is no charge for the services rendered.
The program also answers requests for information in an effort to make consumers aware of their rights and choices in long-term care matters. The ombudsman can answer questions about: the availability of local “in-home” and “community-based” services; nursing home selection and placement; eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid; available alternatives to institutionalization; and address many other questions for users or potential users of long-term care services.
The program conducts routine advocacy visits to long-term care facilities to educate residents and staff about Ombudsman Services and Resident Rights. In addition, the Ombudsman Program works to change the long-term care system by advocating for improvements in long-term care legislation and practice.
The program conducts educational programs for interested parties. The ombudsman program recruits and trains volunteers who visit assigned nursing homes on a weekly basis. Volunteers provide a voice for nursing home residents and serve to lessen the isolation and loneliness experienced by many residents who have no one to speak on their behalf. Volunteers also help to educate residents about their rights, thus empowering them to become more vocal in resolving their own complaints and concerns.
Currently, there are 24 trained and state tested Ombudsmen Volunteers with the Area Agency on Aging District 7.
Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights
Residents’ rights include:
• Right to safe and clean living environment.
• Right to privacy.
• Right to information.
• Civil rights.
• Right to participate in treatment.
• Right to voice grievances.
• Right to manage personal finances.
• Right to adequate and appropriate medical and nursing care.
• Right to be free of Physical and Chemical Restraints.
• Right to take part in Community Activities.
• Right to be treated with courtesy and respect.
• Right to private visits and unrestricted communications.
• Right not to be transferred or discharged from the home.
• Right to be free from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse.
The AAA7 Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (RLTCOP) is responsible for protecting and advocating for the rights of long-term care consumers including residents of nursing homes, assisted living and adult care facilities as well as recipients of in-home and/or community-based services.
The RLTCOP advocates to improve the quality of life and care for long-term care consumers. In 2007, ombudsmen provided a voice for over 8,000 consumers and handled 292 complex complaints.[[In-content Ad]]
The Ombudsman provides a voice for consumers of long-term care. These consumers include residents of nursing homes, residential care facilities, and adult care homes as well as recipients of “in-home” services.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is mandated by the Older Americans Act and is coordinated by the Ohio Department of Aging. There presently are 12 Regional Ombudsman Programs in Ohio. Each Regional Program is responsible for the counties located within its specific Planning and Service Area (PSA). The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. (PSA7), located at Rio Grande, Ohio, administers the Ombudsman Program for the our region.
The Ombudsman Program’s primary role is to investigate and resolve complaints concerning long-term care facilities and service providers in an effort to improve the quality of life for long-term care consumers. Complaints may encompass concerns about nursing care, client rights, food, financial and environmental issues, etc. All communications with the ombudsman are confidential and there is no charge for the services rendered.
The program also answers requests for information in an effort to make consumers aware of their rights and choices in long-term care matters. The ombudsman can answer questions about: the availability of local “in-home” and “community-based” services; nursing home selection and placement; eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid; available alternatives to institutionalization; and address many other questions for users or potential users of long-term care services.
The program conducts routine advocacy visits to long-term care facilities to educate residents and staff about Ombudsman Services and Resident Rights. In addition, the Ombudsman Program works to change the long-term care system by advocating for improvements in long-term care legislation and practice.
The program conducts educational programs for interested parties. The ombudsman program recruits and trains volunteers who visit assigned nursing homes on a weekly basis. Volunteers provide a voice for nursing home residents and serve to lessen the isolation and loneliness experienced by many residents who have no one to speak on their behalf. Volunteers also help to educate residents about their rights, thus empowering them to become more vocal in resolving their own complaints and concerns.
Currently, there are 24 trained and state tested Ombudsmen Volunteers with the Area Agency on Aging District 7.
Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights
Residents’ rights include:
• Right to safe and clean living environment.
• Right to privacy.
• Right to information.
• Civil rights.
• Right to participate in treatment.
• Right to voice grievances.
• Right to manage personal finances.
• Right to adequate and appropriate medical and nursing care.
• Right to be free of Physical and Chemical Restraints.
• Right to take part in Community Activities.
• Right to be treated with courtesy and respect.
• Right to private visits and unrestricted communications.
• Right not to be transferred or discharged from the home.
• Right to be free from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse.
The AAA7 Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (RLTCOP) is responsible for protecting and advocating for the rights of long-term care consumers including residents of nursing homes, assisted living and adult care facilities as well as recipients of in-home and/or community-based services.
The RLTCOP advocates to improve the quality of life and care for long-term care consumers. In 2007, ombudsmen provided a voice for over 8,000 consumers and handled 292 complex complaints.[[In-content Ad]]