Long Term Care Ombudsman
Blue Mountain Action Council is home to the Southeastern Washington regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The Washington State program protects and promotes quality of life for people living in licensed, long-term adult care facilities (e.g. adult family home, boarding home, or nursing home).
A pilot project using volunteer ombudsman to improve care in nursing homes and other facilities began in October 1989. "The mission is to strive to become the eyes, ears and voices for the institutionalized elderly." -Marie Zawatsky, BMAC's first coordinator.
An ombudsman advocates for the rights of clients in adult care facilities by:
- Working with clients, families and facility staff to meet the needs and concerns of the people living there
- Providing a way to get complaints and concerns heard and resolved
The following people can use the Ombudsman Program:
- Residents living in a care facility and his/her relatives or friends
- Administrators and staff of an adult family home, boarding home or nursing home
"The overall purpose of the ombudsman program is to promote the interests, well-being, and rights of long-term care facility residents."
For additional information or questions go to their website: