Agency Details:

New Hampshire Office Of The Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Long-Term Care Resident Advocacy! Mission Statement: The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman shall represent the interests and concerns of elders residing in New Hampshire's long-term care facilities and advocate on their behalf to ensure full realization of their rights to receive quality care and services and to experience an optimal quality of life.

Description:
Seniors in Long-Term Care need your advocacy! The Volunteer Program of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is the heart and soul of the Office. Certified LTC Ombudsman Volunteer Representatives are provided with a 30-hour Certification Program, consisting of 20 hours of classroom education and 10 hours of preceptored practical on-site education. Volunteer trainees learn about the long-term care system, the aging process, advocacy skills, Residents' Rights, regulatory standards of care,observation, listening skills and more. Upon attaining status as a Certified Volunteer, the volunteer visits the residents of their assigned facility, building relationships of trust and respect with them and providing a confidential source to whom their issues, concerns, complaints and problems may be expressed. At the direction of the elder resident, assistance or intervention to improve conditions and/or resolve problems is provided by the volunteer or is directed to the state office for assignment to a paid staff member. LTC Ombudsman volunteers are the eyes and ears of the Office. Continuing education, group support and collective problem-solving are offered through regular statewide meetings of all program staff, volunteers and paid staff alike. Mileage to training session, meetings and facility visits is reimbursed at the rate adopted by the state. A commitment of approximately 10 hours per month for 1 year is desired. Provisions for "snow birds" and others with special requirements will be considered.

History:
Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs were developed nationally beginning in 1974 based upon the success of 7 Ombudsman Demonstration Projects. The Administration on Aging was designated as the federal agency charged with implementation and oversight of the program. In 1978, Title III of the Older Americans' Act (Public Law 89-73) was amended, mandating that all states establish a LTC Ombudsman Program to protect the health, safety, welfare and civil and human rights of residents of nursing homes. In 1981, the Act was broadened to include the category of board and care facilities.
The New Hampshire enabling statute (currently RSA 161-F:10-19) was enacted in 1979. Significant amendments were enacted in 1983 and 1986, including provision for confidentiality of records, access to records, volunteer training, appropriate sharing with select public agencies and immunity from civil and criminal liability for registering and investigating a complaint.The Office is currently "Administratively Attached" to the Division of Elderly and Adult Services within the Department of Health and Human Services, thus providing optimal autonomy to enable pursuit of both individual and systemic advocacy issues within the structure of state government.

Contact people:

Darlene Cray, Volunteer Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Don Rabun, State LTC Ombudsman, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: 603-271-5574

Address:

129 Pleasant Street Concord, NH 03301 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/OLTCO

Directions:

State Office Park South, on the site of the old New Hampshire State Hospital between Pleasant and Fruit Streets. See web site for map to The Brown Building, Department of Health and Human Services.

Last updated on January 25, 2010