Expert help for problems with a care facility
Some assisted living communities and nursing homes provide wonderful care for their residents. Others are…not so good, to put it mildly.
If your senior isn't getting proper care from their care community, you have no choice but to try to get them to address the problems. After all, moving them to another place isn’t something you can do on a whim.
But when the administration ignores complaints, it feels like the whole system is working against you and there’s nothing you can do.
You don’t have to fight the system alone! You can get free expert help from your local ombudsman. They’re insiders who help you get care community problems resolved.
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What is an ombudsman?
A long term care ombudsman is an advocate for residents of nursing homes, residential care homes, and assisted living communities.
They handle complaints and advocate for improvements in the long term care system. They’re also the ones who can tell you more about care facilities and resident rights.
It’s a free government program
The Ombudsman Program is completely free to use. It’s a government program under the Administration on Aging (AoA).
In 2013, the ombudsman program investigated over 190,512 complaints on behalf of 123,666 people across the U.S.. They also provided information on long term care to 335,088 people.
Whatever you say is confidential
If you want, the ombudsman can help you with any complaints or issues you’re having with the care community.
You can feel safe when you contact your ombudsman because unless you give them permission to share your concerns, whatever you say is confidential.
7 common problems that ombudsmen help with
When a senior isn’t getting proper care, there are usually signs that alert you to problems. If you’ve noticed any of these signs, you’re concerned about your senior’s quality of care, or the facility won’t address your concerns or fix problems, call your local ombudsman ASAP.
Here are 7 common issues that ombudsmen help with and signs that they might be happening to your older adult.
1. Physical, verbal, or mental abuse
- Signs: unexplained bruises and injuries, fear of staff, increased agitation or depression
2. Being deprived of services needed to maintain residents' physical and mental health
- Signs: rapid weight loss, dehydration, pressure sores
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3. Unreasonable confinement
- Signs: never able to leave the room, being ignored
4. Poor quality of care
- Signs: falls or injuries, infrequent diaper changes, lack of bathing, call buttons don’t get answered
5. Improper transfer or discharge of patient
- Example: kicking a resident out on short notice for invalid reasons
6. Inappropriate use of chemical or physical restraints
- Example: overuse of sedatives or anti-psychotic drugs
7. Any resident concern about quality of care or quality of life
3 ways to find your local ombudsman
1. The office address and phone number for your local ombudsman should be posted prominently in every long term care facility.
2. Use this online ombudsman locator.
3. Use the “Search by Location” tool on this page to find your local Area Agency on Aging. They’ll be able to refer you to your local ombudsman’s office.
Bottom line
Residents of long term care facilities and their families have a right to good care. Nobody should suffer from abuse, neglect, discrimination, or retaliation.
If something seems wrong, it probably is – don’t hesitate to speak up. An ombudsman will support you in protecting your senior’s rights and getting them the care they deserve.
Next Step Find your local ombudsman’s office
You might also like:
— How to Deal with Problems in Assisted Living: Answers to 7 Top Questions
— 5 Things You Need to Know About Assisted Living
— Senior Housing Experts Help Seniors Find the Perfect Place to Live
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Source: The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
Image: Harmony Information Systems
About the Author
Connie Chow
Connie was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also knows how important support is — especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
Is there really any help for the elderly?The expense the way they are treated The way I see and hear these things it takes forever to get help at all.All people give is ideas on what to do and nothing helps at all.I just moved my mom to my home and I am not really sure what will happen when I cannot do it myself anymore.I wish our country would be like europe or other countries that take care of there elderly people without expense.Instead of sorry to hear that .
Unfortunately, it’s true, the availability of public resources for older adults is often not enough. And every state, county, and city are different in terms of the services they provide for older adults.
Just wondering if I am the only caregiver who is appalled by the amount of living space in a shared room. with the cost of a room being over $9000 a month, I am very unhappy with the fact that with the privacy curtain pulled, there is only enough room for my husband’s bed and his wheelchair If I want sit and watch TV with him and he’s sitting in his wheelchair, I have to climb up on his bed. I don’t see anything in the resident’s rights that address the lack of personal space in a shared room. Why is this not regulated?
Unfortunately, the cost of assisted living and nursing homes is getting so high. We’re sad to hear that you don’t have much space even though you pay high monthly fees. Hopefully your husband is getting good care there.
My mon is in Arbor Glen, Cedar Grove, NJ – over which my younger sister seems to have some kind of POA. Its yet to be verified. Anyway, my mom is not being taken care of properly. She has an very large open and deep pressure sore in her lower back. Her health has drastically decline and she ended in the hospital and that was when I saw the sores and was told by the doctor she was very badly dehydrated. I called both the health department and the Ombudsman to complaint. The rude lady from the health department told me my case was not a propriety and the man who went to the nursing home from the ombudsman agency said her wound dressing looked changed and clean. I asked him what was purpose of going? did you look at the wound. And the lady I just without profanity cursed her out. I don’t know who is worse, the health department, the ombudsmen, the facility or my sister for not pulling my poor mom out of there. Trust me, my complaint will not stop here.
We’re so sorry to hear about this. It’s great that you’re doing your best to help your mom and we hope that the authorities will be able to step in and make sure that she gets proper care.
Ombudsman did nothing after witnessing bruises and fractured leg .What next?
We’re so sorry to hear that the ombudsman wasn’t helpful. Perhaps you could contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find out about other local organizations that could help.
More info here – Area Agency on Aging: Resources for Seniors https://dailycaring.com/area-agency-on-aging-resources-for-seniors/
Again my son is being victimized and has no course for action he is states away and this is an emergency situation I have reached out to law enforcement, director of center he is/was located, patient advocate for his insurance group, social worker that is employed / on site at center and DFCS in his residing state and have gotten no return calls, emails or texts this is WAY BEYOND “DROPPING THE BALL” OR ” SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS” and believe me When I say if and when I finally reach the right set of eyes and ears titles and/ positions will not be considered as escape goat where ” one head can roll, several can as easily” if something happens to my son while trying to get this addressed/resolved I can assure you talk WILL ” HEAR MY ROAR, FEEL MY CLAWS AND FEAR MY BITE” I SWEAR TO YOU THAT.
We’re so sorry that this is happening. Since you’ve gone through all the recommended channels, it might be helpful to speak with a lawyer in the area or hire someone who’s experienced in navigating the local system to help find solutions. For seniors, an aging life care consultant (geriatric care manager) would be a good option.
We’ve got more info on lawyers and care managers here:
– 5 Situations Where Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager Is Worth It https://dailycaring.com/when-hiring-a-geriatric-care-manager-makes-sense/
– A Geriatric Care Manager Advocates for Seniors and Helps Families https://dailycaring.com/how-geriatric-care-manager-can-help-you/
– 5 Smart Tips for Hiring an Elder Law Attorney https://dailycaring.com/how-to-find-an-elder-law-attorney-you-can-trust/
my mother is in a nursing home dieing and we cant even get in to visit with her i have seen such a declime in her health. i dont understand why we punish our elder like this they wont let you in butthey will hire people who have it and let them in im not understanding this at all i just trying to spend time with my mom so i muset ouside in the weather to do so. which will make me sick one big vicouscyclei dont get any of this i just want to see my mom
I’m so sorry that you haven’t been able to see your mother. This pandemic has been especially hard on older adults living in care communities and their families.
Unfortunately, aside from continuously checking with the administration on any changes to their visiting policies, the best thing to do might be to adapt to the situation.
For example, find ways to stay warm while you’re outside, like getting bundled up in thermal underwear and warm layers. Send cards and photos and letters that she can read and look at when you’re not there. And you could consider setting up a communication system that will work for your mother and for you and your family.
We’ve got an article with suggestions on how to make video calls with seniors who aren’t comfortable with technology or have cognitive impairments – Best Way to Make Video Calls to Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia in Nursing Homes https://dailycaring.com/best-way-to-make-video-calls-to-seniors-with-alzheimers-or-dementia-in-nursing-homes-during-coronavirus/
We’ve also got an article with suggestions on how to keep in touch – Nursing Home Lockdown: 6 Ways to Stay Connected with Seniors During a Coronavirus Scare https://dailycaring.com/nursing-home-lockdown-6-ways-to-stay-connected-with-seniors-during-a-coronavirus-scare/
My wife and I have been trying to see my 95 yr old mother-in-law in the nursing home in Nj. She has not had an inside visit since March Maybe 3 or 4 20 min visits outside for 15-20 mins tops. during the covid . I know the facility is playing hardball and mom has faded so much without her much needed intimacy from her children. This kind of treatment is not at all fair to the family. My wife and sister -law were her essential caregivers before her placement and i know Gov. Murphy has a Executive Directive addressing this directive #20-026. It states that the 2 of them can visit her inside for 1 day a week for 2 hours. If there is no active covid for 15 days. facility outright says no. Ready to lose it!! Any advice would so greatly help!
We’re so sorry to hear that this is happening! It’s awful not to be able to see your mother-in-law. You may want to contact your county’s ombudsman’s office to see if they can help.
And according to this recent AARP article, the federal government is currently urging nursing homes to allow visitors (following safety guidelines) and issuing citations to homes that don’t have valid reasons to keep visitors out – https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/feds-ask-nursing-homes-to-open-for-more-visits.html
In case it would be helpful for keeping in touch in addition to in person visits, we’ve got an article about a super simple video calling system. It’s perfect for someone with dementia, but also wonderful for any older adults who don’t want to fuss with technology – Best Way to Make Video Calls to Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia in Nursing Homes https://dailycaring.com/best-way-to-make-video-calls-to-seniors-with-alzheimers-or-dementia-in-nursing-homes-during-coronavirus/
I’m Writing this to Complain about [redacted for privacy]. My Brother is Handicapped on Top of being Quadriplegic! He’s Fell Out of Bed Three Times and Smacked in his Face Couple Times been Called Retarded. What Kind of Life is this for Anybody to Live? We did some Window Visits untill the Staff got an Attitude and Decided to move my Brother [redacted for privacy] to another Room where [he] can’t be Near the window! (Are we in F****** Kindergarten) It’s Coming to a Point where I can’t get any Help for my Brother [redacted for privacy]. I’m Going to Take Matters into my own Hands and Nothing will End well! Plz Help I’m Crying for Help!!!!!!!!!!
We’re so sorry to hear about this situation. You have every right to be angry about the way your brother has been treated. Hopefully the ombudsman’s office in your county can help you work with the care community to address these problems.
You may also want to contact your county’s Area Agency on Aging to see if there are other organizations that can help. More info here – Area Agency on Aging: Resources for Seniors https://dailycaring.com/area-agency-on-aging-resources-for-seniors/
You could also speak with an elder law attorney to see if there’s anything that can be done on a legal front. Here are some suggestions for affordable legal help – 7 Sources of Free Legal Services for Seniors https://dailycaring.com/7-sources-of-free-legal-services-for-seniors/