Mission
The mission of the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman is to protect the health, safety, welfare, human and civil rights of people living in nursing homes and adult care facilities.
Certified Ombudsmen are a vital link between residents of long term care facilities and the government resources able to investigate and resolve their problems. Ombudsmen are committed to advocating for these senior citizens and ensuring that residents' rights, unmet needs and complaints are handled and resolved effectively, while maintaining resident and complainant confidentiality. In this way, Ombudsmen protect and help improve the quality of life for the frailest of New York's senior population.
The mission is accomplished by certified Ombudsmen at the state and community levels who investigate and resolve complaints made by and on behalf of residents. Ombudsmen represent residents and work on their behalf with facility administrators, staff, and family members to achieve resolution of their complaints. Ombudsmen also work with the New York State Department of Health and enforcement authorities, making enforcement referrals in cases of abuse and neglect, and assisting in investigating the underlying causes and solutions to problems. Ombudsmen take a proactive role in promoting resident-protective laws, regulations and policies on long term care issues at the state and federal levels of government.
