Specialized Information for:

Nursing HomesAssisted Living/Board & Care Home and Community Based Services

Systems Advocacy

The Ombudsman program promotes systems change to address the quality of life for residents of long-term care facilities. The resource documents contained here are organized by topic.


General Systems Advocacy Resources

Using Data to Strengthen Your Nursing Home Advocacy (January 19, 2021)

View the slides as a PDFand PPT.

Consumer Fact Sheet: Requirements for Nursing Home Care Staff and Administration

Speaker: Richard Mollot, Executive Director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition

Systems Advocacy: It's More than Legislative Work

View the slides as a PDF.

Participants were taught what is required under the federal law and rule regarding systems advocacy. Presenters shared how they promote better care through systems advocacy at both the state and local level and how they coordinate their advocacy. 

UPDATED: Role and Responsibilities of Ombudsman Programs Regarding Systems Advocacy (February 2018)
The Older Americans Act (OAA) and State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs Rule outline the responsibilities of the State Ombudsman and their representatives, clearly stating that the primary role of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to serve as resident advocates. Ombudsman programs are charged with serving as the resident advocate in response to individual complaints as well as advocating for the concerns of residents and need for change on a systems level. This reference guide briefly defines systems advocacy, reviews the federal mandate and support for systems advocacy work by Ombudsman programs, define several systems advocacy strategies, shares examples of Ombudsman program advocacy and additional resources.

Consumer Voice Advocacy Toolkit

Working Systemically to Improve Care (November 2014)
Presented by Louise Ryan of the Administration for Community Living, this PowerPoint provides tips on advocacy methods for Ombudsmen.

Quality Care in any Setting: Using Ombudsman Knowledge to Help Consumers (February 2010)
This paper is intended to help Ombudsmen recognize the knowledge and resources about quality of care that they have and be alert for opportunities to share key information about quality of care with consumers.

Supporting Well Informed Consumers: The Role of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (May 2005)
This paper grew out of a session with the same title at the 2004 Annual State Ombudsman Conference, where panelists Becky Kurtz, Sharon Zoesch, and Linda Sadden shared their practices and stimulated dialogue on the responsible sharing of LTCOP data with consumers. The paper explores federal requirements and national recommendations; uses for LTCOP data; program practices in sharing data; essential elements for responsible sharing; and key points on the hallmarks of programs that are sharing data and the need for continued dialogue on the issue.


Archive

View Archive

Ombudsman Best Practices: Using Systems Advocacy to Improve Life for Residents (June 2002)

This paper provides a framework for engaging in systems advocacy on behalf of long term care residents. It discusses the LTCOP’s responsibility and role in changing systems on behalf of residents in the Guidance for Systems Advocacy section. The Tips for Sanity and Success section describes basic principles for systems advocacy, i.e. strategies and approaches, and key questions for each stage in the process. Real World Examples gives “real life” examples of systems advocacy and discusses program policies and requirements that support such advocacy. A final list of reminders of decision points which can make or break systems efforts is the Essential Elements section.

Hide text