State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

What Is the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program?

A long-term care ombudsman helps protect the rights, dignity, and quality of life of people who live in assisted living facilities and nursing facilities. Ombudsmen serve as advocates for residents and can help address concerns about care, services, resident rights, communication, and other issues affecting a resident’s experience.

How Can an Ombudsman Help Assisted Living Residents?

Residents and their families may contact a long-term care ombudsman when they have questions or concerns about life in an assisted living community. An ombudsman can listen to concerns, explain resident rights, help residents communicate their wishes, and work with residents and others toward resolving complaints. Texas HHS specifically recognizes the ombudsman program as a resource for assisted living residents who need help finding a resolution or filing a complaint.

Examples of Concerns Residents May Have

Concerns may involve care or treatment, communication, resident rights, transfers or discharges, services, privacy, or other aspects of daily life in a long-term care facility. Residents have the right to raise concerns about their care and treatment without being discriminated against or treated differently for complaining.

How to Contact the Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman

To speak with a Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman, residents or family members may call the statewide toll-free number at 1-800-252-2412. The Texas Health and Human Services Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides assistance to residents of assisted living facilities and nursing facilities.

Providence Assisted Living Solutions believes residents and families should understand their rights and know where to turn when they have questions or concerns. Families are encouraged to communicate openly with our team about their loved one’s care, and residents always retain the right to seek assistance from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.