The Older Americans Act (OAA) seeks to enable older individuals to maintain their well-being through locally developed community-based systems of services. The OAA Title III B and Title VII A Ombudsman Program identifies, investigates, and resolves complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities that affect the residents’ health, safety, welfare, or rights. The Program also receives and investigates reports of suspected elder and dependent adult abuse occurring in LTC facilities, adult residential facilities, adult day programs, adult day health care facilities, intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled, congregate living health facilities, and adult residential facilities for persons with special health care needs.
Local staff and volunteers witness advance health care directives and certain property transfers for residents in nursing facilities to ensure these transactions are entered into without undue influence. The Program also provides community education to inform the public about LTC services and issues that affect residents.
The Office of the State LTC Ombudsman has oversight responsibility for 35 local Ombudsman programs throughout California. Approximately 240 paid staff and 364 certified volunteers advocate on behalf of residents of LTC facilities. These facilities include 1,189 skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities and 7,798 residential care facilities for the elderly, with a combined count of 322,218 LTC beds.