When you place your loved one in a nursing home or go to live in an assisted living facility yourself, you expect proper care to be provided. Unfortunately, many facilities are understaffed, and the caregiving staff may be overworked and inadequately trained. Nursing home neglect and abuse are tragically common, and it’s important, if you love someone in a nursing home, to be alert to signs. In some instances, nursing home residents or their loved ones need the services of the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. This program advocates for nursing home and assisted living facility residents in the state and promotes their rights under federal and state laws. If you suspect that your loved one was neglected or abused in a long-term nursing facility, you should not only contact the Office of the Long-term Care Ombudsman, but also the trustworthy Bellingham, WA nursing home neglect lawyers of Walton Law. Our founder Chris Walton is an award-winning trial attorney, and our firm works hard to provide personalized legal representation.
Washington State Long-term Care Ombudsman
The federal Older Americans Act requires each state to have an Office of the Long-term Care Ombudsman. The office in Washington, operated by the Multi-Service Center, is created under the mandates of RCW 43.190. Their mission is to address complaints and advocate for improvements for residents within the long-term care system. To fulfill this mission, the ombudsman program follows duties set forth under WAC 365.18.060:- It identifies, investigates, and resolves complaints related to actions or decisions that could adversely affect residents or that are made by a resident’s residents, associates or friends or providers and their representatives, along with those decisions made by governmental agencies or guardians.
- It coordinates with local and state agencies to develop referral procedures to refer complaints as need be to agencies. The referrals have to conform to Washington laws about the information to be provided and confidentiality.
- It serves to help residents and representatives guard the residents’ safety and health.
- It lets residents and representatives know about their rights and how to get services.
- It ensures that residents and representatives receive timely, regular access to the program’s services, while also securing their privacy.
Talking to the Ombudsman Program
Many different interested parties can seek out the assistance of ombudsman program. You may be able to access these free advocacy services if you are involved in the long-term care system in Washington state and you are:
- The resident of a nursing home, adult family home, veteran’s home, or assisted living facility
- The relative or friend of someone in such a facility
- An employee or administrator of one of these facilities
- A person or group concerned about a resident’s welfare in a facility
- A community member.