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Sadly, older persons are not always treated with respect nor do they always get the care they need.

Find resources and information related to advance care planning and end of life care.

Ending overmedication of nursing home residents and halting the misuse of antipsychotic drugs as chemical restraints is critical. Antipsychotic drugs, when prescribed for elderly persons with dementia, can have serious medical complications, including: death, loss of independence, over-sedation, confusion and falls.

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 allows the appointment of a “Patient Care Ombudsman,” which may be the State Ombudsman.

Find issues related to Culture Change on the Person-Centered Care issue page.

Find resources and information achieving quality care for people living with dementia care.

A disability is an impairment that may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, sensory, or some combination of these. It substantially affects a person’s life activities and may be present from birth or occur during a person’s lifetime.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are essential elements for creating a foundation that ensures fair treatment and full participation of all individuals, especially those that have been underrepresented and marginalized.

These resources are to help to determine if utilizing a surveillance camera is right for consumers and family members. There are also various state laws and resources concerning the use of surveillance cameras.

Resources are available for victims, their families and care providers that may be useful in preparing for, or in the aftermath of, an emergency event.

The Older Americans Act requires Ombudsman programs to support the development of resident and family councils.

Find resources and information related to guardianship.

Ombudsmen, residents and their families can stay up to date with the latest health recommendations for long-term care facilities through published items on this site.

This page displays information about and resources for Legal Assistance Providers.

Get resources and information related to to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) older adults and aging.

Each state has a survey and certification agency that works to ensure that healthcare delivered by providers is safe, cost effective, and compliant with all state and federal laws. Nursing homes must be licensed to operate according to their state’s licensure requirements.  Get resources and information related to the licensing and certification of long-term care facilities here.

Resources and information related to MDS 3.0.

Medicare and Medicaid are two federal programs administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that provide medical and health-related services to specific populations within the United States.

Resources and information related to mental health/mental illness among the long-term care population.

Formerly the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign. A campaign to improve quality for residents and staff through a person-centered quality of life as a result of a stable and empowered workforce, dedicated to improving clinical and organizational outcomes and engaging in open communication and transparency.

As nursing homes close for financial or other reasons, residents must be relocated to other facilities. Ombudsmen are involved in many sides of this issue, including helping residents find appropriate placements and making sure quality care is maintained.

A staffing shortage in nursing homes has contributed to poor quality care. This issue remains a top priority on Consumer Voice’s advocacy agenda.

The Olmstead court decision involves a persons right to choose care in the least restrictive setting. States are required to have a plan to accommodate resident requests to return from institutions to the community and how to stimulate alternatives to institutional care.

This page contains pain management resources.

A nursing home is a place residents call “home.” A place where someone lives, and calls home should nurture the human spirit as well as meet medical needs. Person-centered care focuses on the resident and supports them in making choices and having control of their daily life. Person-centered care is an important component in residents’ right to “care and services to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being;” as promised in the Federal Nursing Home Regulations. The goal of person-centered care is to deinstitutionalize the facility to create an environment that follows the residents’ routines rather than those imposed by facility staff and provides truly individualized care. It is the role of the Ombudsman program to advocate for residents and their right to make choices to direct their care and life in long-term care facilities. Below are documents and resources that may help Ombudsman programs in their work to achieve person-centered care.

Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) is an initiative undertaken by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid studies to expand improvement activities in nursing homes. The provision is included in the Affordable Care Act and states that QAPI programs shall develop regulations that help facilities meet new established standards. The QAPI program also gives CMS the opportunity to find the best practices in nursing home quality, identify areas of need and advancement, and expand the level of activities currently required by the existing Quality Assessment and Assurance provision

Residents’ Rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. The law requires nursing homes to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity and self-determination. This page includes information on Residents’ Rights, Residents’ Rights translations and National Residents’ Rights month.

Intimacy and physical sexual expression is a basic human right and need throughout the lifespan. Find resources to help caregivers recognize consensual intimacy, protect residents from sexual abuse and support residents’ rights.

Complaints regarding facility-initiated transfers and discharges continue to be one of the top complaints that Ombudsman programs receive nationwide. These complaints can be complex and extremely time consuming and the threat of transfer or discharge from a long-term care facility can be traumatic for residents and their families.

Ensuring that residents who have experienced trauma receive culturally competent, trauma-informed care is one of several new federal requirements which will go into effect when Phase 3 of the revised federal nursing home regulations are implemented November 28, 2019.

Ombudsman programs are likely to provide information and/or services to Tribal Elders living in every state. Thirty-five states have federally recognized tribes living within their borders.  There are eighteen long-term care facilities in Indian Country, so the majority of Tribal Elders living in long-term care facilities reside in facilities in other communities. This page contains resources and information to increase your effectiveness in serving Tribal Elders.

Resources and information related to veterans’ benefits and issues.

Older adults account for a large portion of voters during elections. This demographic is more likely to vote in prominent elections than their younger counterparts. However, residents in long-term care facilities have a harder time accessing voting locations due to mobility, health, and other issues that inhibit their ability to vote. As advocates, Ombudsman programs support all residents’ right to vote and advocate on behalf of residents to ensure that they have the opportunity to participate in the election process.  Below are resources to help raise awareness about residents’ right to vote, information about facility requirements to support residents’ right to vote, and tips for ensuring voting access.

Younger residents in long-term care facilities represent a growing but frequently under-served population.