About

om·buds·man– an advocate for long-term care residents and their families

All of the Ombudsman services are provided FREE OF CHARGE. No resident will be denied assistance if they choose not to donate. However, donations are graciously accepted and help defray program costs. If you choose to make a donation, please visit the “Donate” tab.

What Does an Ombudsman Do?

The local Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Program serves as the first line of defense for residents of care facilities. In California, LTC Ombudsman organizations make unannounced facility visits and assist residents in licensed facilities, such as skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes) and residential care facilities for the elderly (assisted living facilities).

Through a combination of paid staff and well-trained certified volunteers, Ombudsman organizations operate to provide monitoring of facility conditions and resident well-being. Ombudsman serve as eyes, ears and advocates for residents, particularly the residents without family members (also known as “unbefriended residents”) visiting to observe care and report problems.

Volunteer and staff Ombudsman are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes and assisted living facilities. Ombudsman investigate complaints made by or on behalf of care facility residents. Complaints can be made regarding any issue; most involve problems with care or abuse. Unless a resident gives the Ombudsman permission to share his or her concerns,
all matters are kept confidential.

Ombudsman regularly make unannounced visits to Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly to ensure that residents are receiving the highest possible quality of life and care. During the visit, the Ombudsman checks for health and safety issues, quality of care, and quality of life. The Ombudsman will also meet with individual residents to talk about any concerns, problems or complaints. In addition, Ombudsman provide training to facility staff, residents, and family regarding care issues, resident rights, and elder abuse prevention.

If you reside outside of Kern County and are looking for the Ombudsman program that serves your area, please click here.