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

Ombudsman Program Examples of Systems Advocacy

Aging in Alaska Flyer (2023)
In early 2023, the Alaska State Ombudsman program and partner agencies (AARP-Alaska, Alaska Commission on Aging and AGEnet) decided to get on the state legislative calendar to do a "Lunch and Learn" for the legislators to learn more about the aging population in Alaska. Above is the flyer and the agencies that the State Ombudsman is partnering with for the upcoming Lunch and Learn session. This is an opportunity for all state legislators to get informed and to get to know about the LTCO program and what they do.

Connecticut Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Advocacy Webpage
This advocacy page from the Connecticut Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides recent systems advocacy updates and information for consumers. 

Connecticut Statewide Coalition of Presidents of Resident Councils Provide Support For S.B. 973 Video (March 2021)
This video from Connecticut was made with the help of E-Board members in support of S.B 973, a bill moving forward in Connecticut that would give residents and family members the right to be heard on policy and regulatory changes that impact their lives. 

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.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Structure, Responsibilities, Quality and Funding (September 2003)
This overview of state long-term care ombudsman programs (SLTCOPs) is a snapshot in time. It contains self-reported results from the 53 SLTCOPs.

Unique Characteristics of Ombudsman Programs (Updated October 2002)
This report focuses on being aware of the misconceptions of LTCO programs and how to address them.

Strategy Brief: The Ombudsman Program and Caregiver Support
The information presented in this document is based on promising practices identified by state ombudsmen in response to an email sent to all programs in May 2006 and information provided during the National Dialogue Forum. The National Dialogue Forum consisted of two teleconferences held on May 16 and 18, 2006.

Strategy Brief: Ombudsman Program Advocacy in Guardianship (May 2006)
This report presents promising practices and strategies used by ombudsmen concerning guardianship and alternatives to guardianship for nursing home residents with limited decision-making capacity and no surrogate decision-maker. Included are discussion highlights from National Dialogue Forum #4 convened by the National Association of State Units on Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) on the topic in June 2005. This was the fourth in a series of Forums NASUAD convened on challenging issues facing state long-term care ombudsmen. Also included is information gathered from an email solicitation to all programs in May 2005 in preparation for two conference calls. (This is a large file - 800 KB. It may take a few moments to download.)

Strategy Brief: Ombudsman Program Responses to Diversity (September 2005)
This report presents promising practices and strategies used by ombudsmen serving diverse resident populations. Included are discussion highlights from National Dialogue Forum #3 convened by the National Association of State Units on Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) on the topic. This is the third in a series of Forums NASUAD has convened on challenging issues facing state long-term care ombudsmen.

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