The Washington State Ombudsman Program has been organized to utilize highly trained community volunteers to supplement the work of a small staff. The State of Washington authorizes the State Long Term Care Ombudsman to delegate her authority (to advocate on behalf of LTC residents) to visiting ombudsmen who are willing to undergo certification training, and work under the principles and guidelines set by the LTC Ombudsman Program.

Currently, there are over 500 Certified LTC Ombudsmen in Washington State. More Ombudsmen are needed to advocate for residents and their families, as the number of people residing in long term care increases.

And did you know...

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is an organized nation-wide effort with programs in many states, mandated to provide effective advocacy and support to residents in a variety of long term care settings.

What is a Long Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman and why are they needed?

A Long Term Care Ombudsman, staff or volunteer, is a person trained, certified, and authorized by the Washington State Ombudsman Program to advocate for residents in long term care facilities.

Ombudsmen are needed to assist residents and their families in achieving the highest level of quality of life and quality of care, which is a right guaranteed to residents by law.

A LTC Ombudsman provides residents with easy access to a personal, on-site advocate who is mandated to work only on behalf of residents. In Washington State, a LTC Ombudsman:

• Visits their assigned facilities on a weekly basis, spending about 4 hours/week working on behalf of residents;

• Works to resolve issues of resident care, resident rights, family matters, and finances;

• Makes it his/her business to get to know the residents, their families and staff;

• Consults with residents and helps residents get answers to their questions or concerns;

• Refers potential cases of retaliation or coercion to authorities