Wise & Healthy Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – Advocating for the Rights of Those in Long-Term Care Settings

The representatives of the WISE & Healthy Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program serve as advocates for the residents occupying the more than 75,000 beds in long-term care facilities in the city and county of Los Angeles.

The program oversees ombudsman services in the city and county of Los Angeles as part of the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This program is authorized under the federal Older Americans Act and its California companion, the Older Californians Act.

The goal of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of individual residents in long-term care facilities. These facilities include nursing homes; residential care facilities for the elderly (also known as assisted living or board and care facilities).

The Role of the Ombudsman

The Wise & Healthy Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provide the following services:
  • Advocacy by voicing residents' concerns to a facility's administration.

  • Investigation of complaints made by or on behalf of residents

  • Informal mediation to help parties involved reach agreements and settle conflicts, with the resident's satisfaction as the main focus

  • Elder abuse investigation. Ombudsmen are trained to investigate and report suspected cases of elder and dependent adult abuse in long-term care facilities.

  • Education to make residents and caregiver more aware of residents’ rights under State and federal regulations.

  • Witnessing of residents’ signatures on documents such as Advance Health Care Directives in skilled nursing facilities.

  • Conducting regular unannounced visits to skilled nursing facilities and assisted living or board and care facilities.