They work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about changes at the local, state and national levels to improve care. While most residents receive good care in long-term care facilities, far too many are neglected, and other unfortunate incidents of psychological, physical and other kinds of abuse do occur. Thus, thousands of trained volunteer ombudsmen regularly visit long-term care facilities, monitor conditions and care, and provide a voice for those unable to speak for themselves.
Local ombudsmen work on behalf of residents in hundreds of communities throughout the country.
In 1998, over 900 paid ombudsmen and 7,000 certified volunteer ombudsmen, working in 587 localities nationwide, investigated about 200,000 complaints made by 121,000 individuals and provided information on long-term care to another 200,000 people. The most frequent complaints involved lack of resident care due to inadequate staffing. Residents Rights Ombudsmen help residents and their families and friends understand and exercise rights that are guaranteed by law, both at the federal level and in many states. The Center is supported with funds from the Administration on Aging. The area agency will either be the sponsor of the ombudsman program or know where the program is located.