California Ombudsman

Do you suspect a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or nursing home neglect? One of the first steps you should take is contacting a long term care ombudsman.

Often, it is difficult to move a nursing home resident right away. Many concerned family members try to file a complaint initially which typically ends up going unresolved. A California ombudsman for nursing homes advocates for residents and their families and investigates complaints. The ombudsman program can give you immediate options to assist your loved one.

If you feel the nursing home administration is ignoring your complaints or cannot resolve the issue, you can report nursing home abuse and neglect to the ombudsman for immediate attention.

Here is everything you need to know to contact an ombudsman in California and how they can help.

What Is an Ombudsman and What Do They Do? | Ombudsman Definition

What is an ombudsman? A long-term care ombudsman is a representative that helps families and residents in long-term care facilities by investigating and resolving complaints and serving as an advocate. The long term care ombudsman program is administered by the California Department of Aging (CDA).

A California ombudsman essentially helps senior victims of abuse or neglect to understand their rights within the legal system and reach a proper resolution.

Ombudsman services are provided free of charge to long-term care residents and families. The complaints you make to the ombudsman are confidential.

The ombudsman program came about due to increasing complaints and awareness surrounding issues of neglect, abuse, and poor quality care for the elderly. The Nursing Home Ombudsman Program was created in 1978 through amendments to the Older Americans Act. Three years later in 1981, the government changed the program to include assisted living locations as well. Now, all 50 states are required to have an Ombudsman Program providing access to an ombudsman nursing home residents deserve.

An ombudsman in California is usually a state-certified volunteer who has received extensive training. Ombudsmen must receive at least 36 hours of training, complete a supervised internship, and receive at least 12 hours of ongoing education annually.

What Does an Ombudsman Do in a Nursing Home? | Ombudsman Services Explained

Elder abuse and neglect are major issues both in California and across the country. These instances are generally handled by providers within the state’s Department of Aging.

The department’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program has branches throughout the state. Nursing home residents and their families can contact their local State of California ombudsman office to be assigned an ombudsman.

What does an ombudsman typically do? A nursing home ombudsman can assist with quality of life issues and nursing home abuse reporting. Common areas in which they can help include:

• Poor quality of care in a long-term care facility
• Dietary issues in the facility
• Violations of a nursing home resident’s rights and dignity
• Concerns regarding physical, verbal, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse
• Issues related to medical care, rehabilitation, or therapy
• Improper discharge or transfer of a long-term care resident
• Inappropriate use of physical or chemical restraints
• Regular, unannounced visits to licensed nursing homes

An ombudsman for elderly nursing home residents has a primary role of protecting seniors from mistreatment, abuse, neglect, and poor conditions. They do this through random visits to facilities to look for signs of nursing home abuse and neglect and by taking complaints from residents and families.

A California ombudsman reports their findings to appropriate government agencies. After each visit, the ombudsman enters their records into the National Ombudsman Reporting System to help spot and address chronic complaints, shortcomings, and other issues.

Report Nursing Home Abuse | Role of Ombudsman in Nursing Home Abuse

One of the most important roles of the California state ombudsman is reviewing and investigating reported abuse or neglect in a long-term care facility. Their goal is to closely examine allegations, determine if they are credible, then advocate for the resident to resolve the issue.

You can think of the long term care ombudsman as a counselor and mediator. They play a very different role than a nursing home abuse lawyer, police, or the Department of Public Health as they assist with conflict resolution, communication, and education. You can report nursing home abuse directly to a California ombudsman as an alternative to calling the nursing home abuse hotline or contacting the state for help navigating your case.

Your ombudsman can answer questions such as:

• How do I report a nursing home to the state?
• What are my rights as a resident of a nursing home?
• How can I move my loved one to a safer facility?
• How can I prove allegations of abuse or neglect?

An ombudsman in California will listen to your concerns and step in to assist you with a complaint. They will ensure the right parties are involved and connect you to resources. When you submit your complaint to an ombudsman, they will work with staff to resolve your complaint, involve other parties when necessary, and report serious issues to the state.

The benefit of the nursing home ombudsman program is you will gain an advocate who will help you through the entire process. They will ensure your rights are protected and the correct action is taken.

However, the California Ombudsman Program is not designed for emergencies. If you feel that your loved one is at serious risk of imminent harm, call 911 instead or your local police department.

When Should You Contact a California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?

A long term care ombudsman in California can assist with resolving issues, large and small, including reporting abuse and neglect to the state. However, they cannot provide legal advice and they cannot help with a civil case against the nursing home.

After contacting your local ombudsman, the next step may be contacting a San Diego nursing home abuse attorney to help your family and loved one pursue financial compensation. Your lawyer will help you hold the facility accountable and seek compensation for your loved one’s pain and suffering, medical care, transfer to a different facility, and more. Your lawyer can also work with your ombudsman to gather the necessary evidence and document the harm your loved one has suffered.

Contact Berman & Riedel, LLP today for a free consultation with a compassionate California nursing home neglect lawyer to discuss your case. Our law firm is based on San Diego and represents clients throughout California. We are renowned for our expertise in nursing home abuse and neglect cases with case results that speak for themselves.

Who Is My Local Ombudsman? | How to Find Your Local Ombudsman Office

How do I contact my local ombudsman? If you are being mistreated as a resident or suspect a loved one has been abused or neglected, there are several ways to locate your local ombudsman office.

Long-term care facilities in California are required to post the state CRISISline number and the local California ombudsman phone number and location. You can also search for your local office through the California Department of Aging or check below for the contact information for the long term care ombudsman who can help you.

California Ombudsman Contact Information