Resident Advocates working to resolve resident issues at the lowest possible level.

Description:
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is intended to improve the quality of life for people who live in licensed long-term care facilities, and to protect and promote the rights of residents and assist in empowering them to become self-advocates.

Long Term Care Ombudsman Volunteers:

1. Visit with residents living in the assigned facility at least weekly. More frequent visits are desirable and important.
   
   
2. Provide information to residents living in the assigned long term care facility:
3. About their rights,
4. Community services available to them,
5. Laws, regulations and standards that govern long term care facilities and
6. Good health and safety practice.
   
   
7. When a resident living in the assigned long term care facility complains or otherwise discusses a violation of their rights, law regulation or standard, the certified long term care ombudsman will:
8. Determine the facts of the alleged violation.
9. Make a determination that the complaint was/was not verified.
10. When the complaint is verified, work with the resident and the service provider to resolve the complaint.
11. When the complaint is not resolved, obtain the resident's consent to refer the complaint to the regional long term care ombudsman and possibly on to the state investigatory system.
    
    
12. Assist residents living in the assigned long term care facility and their families and friends to become more actively involved in their care and treatment by assisting to develop and participating in resident councils and family support groups or family councils.
    
    
13. Report all actual or suspected incidents of resident abuse to the Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman for discussion. The resident's desire for confidentiality and safety issues for the resident and other residents will determine the direction for further action.
    
    
14. Attend monthly in-service training sessions.
    
    
15. Submit monthly activity reports.



History:
Pierce County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is one of thirteen designated Area Agencies on Aging in Washington State. It is our job to advocate for the resident when he/she can't, to monitor laws and regulations concerning residents and to educate the resident, family and staff about resident rights.




Contact person: Karen Hausrath, Regional L/T Care Ombudsman, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (253) 798-3812

Address:


3580 Pacific Ave Tacoma, WA 98418-7915 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.PierceCountyWA.org/ombuds

Directions:

Pierce County Human Services is located in the former Puget Sound Hospital building on Pacific Avenue at 36th Street.   Nearest Bus Stop: #1 and #53, 1 minute walk

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