Long Term Care Ombudsman

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Visit all long-term care facilities in the service area on a regular basis. Visit long-term care facilities in response to complaints. Educate the public regarding all aspects of the long-term care system. Duties also include advocacy, community education, assisting individuals in accessing long-term care services, assisting in development of resident/family councils, and supporting activities of volunteer advocates. Participate in agency philanthropic activities.

DUTIES

• Routinely visit residents of long-term care facilities and ensure timely access to representatives of the Ombudsman program.
• Assist long-term care facility residents in understanding their rights
• Ensure equal Ombudsman treatment of all long-term care providers
• Assist individuals seeking placement in long-term care facilities in accessing needed services
• Represent interests of residents before government agencies and seek administrative, legal and other remedies to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents
• Establish and maintain relationships with public and private guardians, state and local law enforcement agencies, legal assistance programs, courts of competent jurisdiction and other organizations providing support or assistance to long-term care facility residents
• Develop and maintain a relationship with the local Nursing Facility Closure team
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with state and federal policies
• Working with Waiver providers for identifying NFTIs
• Participate in all required training & support the development of resident and/or family councils
• Assist older adults and their families in understanding, identifying, locating, evaluating, and/or obtaining long-term care services
• Recruit, train, supervise and otherwise support activities related to volunteer advocates assigned to assist residents of identified long-term care facilities.
• Ensure compliance with all state and federal service standards, program guidelines and reporting requirements
• Requires daily driving to LTC facilities within the region
• Requires entering facilities and navigating through to meet with clients in their space
• Other duties as assigned