§ 1324.1 Definitions. The following definitions apply to this part: *Immediate family,* pertaining to conflicts of interest as used in section 712 of the Older Americans Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 3058g), means a member of the household or a relative with whom there is a close personal or significant financial relationship.
*Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman,* as used in sections 711 and 712 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058f and 3058g), means the organizational unit in a State or Territory which is headed by a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
*Official duties,* as used in section 712 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058g) with respect to representatives of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, means work pursuant to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program authorized by the Act, subpart A of this part, and/or State law and carried out under the auspices and general direction of, or by direct delegation from, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
*Representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman,* as used in sections 711 and 712 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058f and 3058g), means the employees or volunteers designated by the Ombudsman to fulfill the duties set forth in § 1324.19(a), whether personnel supervision is provided by the Ombudsman or their designees or by an agency hosting a local Ombudsman entity designated by the Ombudsman pursuant to section 712(a)(5) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058g(a)(5)).
*Resident representative* means any of the following: ( 1 ) An individual chosen by the resident to act on behalf of the resident in order to support the resident in decision-making; access the resident's medical, social, or other personal information; manage the resident's financial matters; or receive notifications pertaining to the resident;
( 2 ) A person authorized by State or Federal law (including but not limited to agents under power of attorney, representative payees, and other fiduciaries) to act on behalf of the resident in order to support the resident in decision-making; access the resident's medical, social or other personal information; manage the resident's financial matters; or receive notifications pertaining to the resident;
( 3 ) Legal representative, as used in section 712 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058g);
( 4 ) The court-appointed guardian or conservator of a resident;
( 5 ) Nothing in this rule is intended to expand the scope of authority of any resident representative beyond that authority specifically authorized by the resident, State or Federal law, or a court of competent jurisdiction.
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or Ombudsman, as used in sections 711 and 712 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058f and 3058g), means the individual who heads the Office and is responsible to personally, or through representatives of the Office, fulfill the functions, responsibilities and duties set forth in §§ 1324.13 and 1324.19.
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, Ombudsman program, or program, as used in sections 711 and 712 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 3058f and 3058g), means the program through which the functions and duties of the Office are carried out, consisting of the Ombudsman, the Office headed by the Ombudsman, and the representatives of the Office.
*Willful interference* means actions or inactions taken by an individual in an attempt to intentionally prevent, interfere with, or attempt to impede the Ombudsman from performing any of the functions or responsibilities set forth in § 1324.13, or the Ombudsman or a representative of the Office from performing any of the duties set forth in § 1324.19.