Elder Law

Illinois Ombudmen are Vital to Nursing Home Care

By Levin & Perconti

Illinois ombudsmen help the staff understand the rights of residents. In order to make sure those residents? rights are upheld, the agency sponsors the Long-Term Ombudsman Program which covers 16 counties in Illinois. It serves residents age 60 in over 139 licensed health facilities, 11 assisted living facilities and seven supportive living facilities. There are 10 long-term facilities in Vermillion County that benefit from the ombudsmen work. They aid in issue such as nursing home abuse and neglect. They refer the worse cases of nursing home abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The paid staff with the ombudsman program visits the facilities once every quarter, or four times a year. Residents are urged to call the ombudsman?s office if problems cannot be resolved. One can become an ombudsman by completing an application and interview process. They then have to go through basic training and mentoring. Currently, Vermillion County has one community ombudsman. To read more about how to become an ombudsman, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on September 14, 2009 (boomark / email).