Long Term Care Ombudsman

What is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program? The Pueblo Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of skilled nursing homes, and licensed assisted living residences. The authority of the long-term care ombudsman program comes from the Older Americans Act, as well as from the Older Coloradans Act. The primary purpose of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to promote and protect the residents rights guaranteed these residents under federal and state law. We achieve this mission with a network of local offices across the state, which recruit, train, and manage teams of certified ombudsmen. Staff and volunteer ombudsmen visit long-term care facilities throughout the state to ensure residents rights are being upheld. Certified Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are trained to receive complaints and resolve problems in situations involving quality of care, use of restraints, transfer and discharge, abuse, and other aspects of resident dignity and rights. Ombudsman services are free, confidential and resident directed. Who Can Use the Ombudsman Program? Residents of skilled nursing homes and licensed assisted living residences Relatives and friends of residents in licensed long-term care facilities such as Assisted Living residences or licensed residential group homes Any group or individual concerned about the welfare of residents of long-term care facilities Anyone can call the Ombudsman Program at 303-862-3524 Some Reasons Why People Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Violations of rights  privacy issues, loss of dignity issues, poor staff attitudes, emotional and verbal abuse, etc. Problems with transfers and discharges  improperly discharged, service fees not disclosed, refused readmission, Medicaid discrimination, etc. Problems with care  call lights not being answered, problems with receiving medications, poor hygiene, etc. Ombudsman Contact Information: Phone number: 719-583-6123   Editors Note: This article was submitted by Tara Morrow, SRDA Deputy Director. For more information, contact the SRDA Active Adult Center at 719-554-8900.