1. Office Of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care Enhancing the quality of life and the quality of care for adults receiving long-term care

2. 1978Congress establishes LTC ombudsman under Title III-Bof the Older Americans Act

3. 1989LTC Ombudsmanprogram expands to consumers of home care services

4. Confidentiality • Identity of client & related data • Identity of complainant & related data

5. Not Mandated Reporters • Whoa! Seriously?? • Why?? • “Sylvia, here comes Ethel, that volunteer from the Ombudsman Program. You can tell her anything and she can’t tell anyone”

6. Who Contacts the Ombudsman? • Family/Friends • Consumers • Provider/Staff • Social Service Staff & Others • Unknown/unwilling to identify

7. Examples of complaints • Sexual abuse • Sexual identity • Care issues • Family issues • Visits • Involuntary discharges • Not knowing rights of appeal and other information

8. Policies needed for prevention of sexual violence • Person – centered planning (Albert Lea) • How to interview • Triggers for people with dementia • Accessible, safe entry points for • Immigrants • People with disabilities • Specific cultural communities • People who are GLBT

9. Policies continued • Data collection • Mandated Training • Review of what goes wrong • Dissect the incidents • Physical spaces • Privacy issues • Generational issues

10. “Never doubt for a moment that a small, committed, group of citizens can change the world.Indeed- it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead