Long-Term Care Ombudsman

You can locate a local Ombudsman office in your area by selecting your county on the Find Services in My County page of this website.

Additionally, all long-term care facilities are required to post, in a visible location, the phone number for the local Ombudsman office and the Statewide CRISISline number 1-800-231-4024. The CRISISline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take calls and refer complaints from residents in long-term care facilities.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman representatives assist residents in long-term care facilities with issues related to day-to-day care, health, safety, and personal preferences. Problems can include, but are not limited to:

• Violation of residents' rights or dignity
• Physical, verbal, mental, or financial abuse
• Poor quality of care
• Dietary concerns
• Medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation issues
• Medicare and Medi-Cal benefit issues
• Improper transfer or discharge of a resident
• Inappropriate use of chemical or physical restraints

An Ombudsman:

• Will follow your wishes

  Ombudsman representatives follow the expressed wishes of residents or, in cases where residents cannot indicate their choices, the expressed wishes of their representatives.

• Receives extensive training

  Every new Ombudsman representative completes a minimum of 36 hours of training as well as a supervised internship. After being certified, Ombudsman representatives must complete a minimum of 18 hours of ongoing education each year.

• Is usually a volunteer

  nearly 80 percent of California's State-certified Ombudsman representatives are volunteers.

• Reviews and investigates reports of abuse or neglect in long-term care facilities

All Ombudsman services are provided for free and all complaints are confidential.

All residents of Long-Term Care facilities regardless of age

For past and current program data visit the Data and Reports sections of the website.