Senior Rights and Advocacy / Ombudsman

What is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman?

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman helps residents in long-term care facilities maintain their legal rights, control over their own lives, and personal dignity. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

What are the major responsibilities of the Ombudsman?

• Receive and resolve complaints made by or for residents of long-term care facilities.
• Educate consumers about long-term care providers about residents’ rights and good care practices.
• Provide information to the public on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and services, residents’ rights and legislative policy issues.

Who can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Coordinator?

Anyone may contact the Ombudsman. A concern or complaint may come from the resident, residents’ family, friend or even long-term care facility. The Ombudsman is required to keep all information confidential. There is no charge for Ombudsman services.

Residents’ Rights

Residents’ Rights are guaranteed by the Federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. The law required nursing homes to “promote and protect the rights of each resident.” The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law Protects the following rights of nursing home residents:

• Right to Information
• Right to Complain
• Right to Participate in One’s Own Care
• Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
• Rights During Transfers and Discharges
• Right to Dignity, Respect and Freedom
• Right to Visits
• Right to Make Independent Choices

To learn more, contact:

Judith Shaw, Long-Term Care Ombudsman
301-475-4200, ext. 1055
Judith.Shaw@stmarysmd.com

For more information view the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Brochure

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