Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act

There is a growing number of elderly adults in long-term care facilities, which creates a greater need for ombudsman staff and volunteers. Legislation by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) aims to improve the ombudsman program. Kaine says, “This legislation aims to strengthen the ombudsman program and ensure that trained professionals are available to advocate for residents, address complaints, and help maintain safe, quality care.”

The ombudsman program is established under the Older Americans Act and plays a “crucial” role in advocating for residents of nursing homes and various long-term care facilities. This program relies on trained volunteers and professional staff to respond to/address complaints, provide confidential support, and monitor conditions in long-term care facilities. In 2023, nearly 5,400 Ombudsman program staff and volunteers made over 340,000 visited long-term care facilities and assisted over 500,000 residents and their families.

Casey said, “Long-term care ombudsmen are vital to ensuring that residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have advocates who can represent their interests and can push for better care and conditions.”

This proposed legislation, Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act, includes many key provisions to enhance the existing program. This bill will require the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to enhance and update the staffing ratio of ombudsmen to long-term care facility beds.

Currently, ombudsmen follow a 1995 report that suggested a ratio of one ombudsman per 2,000 beds. This has not been revised in 30 years!

Additionally, The legislation promotes the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to define categories and training requirements for ombudsman program volunteers. This will enhance recruitment and retention while maintaining quality training. Finally, the legislation reaffirms the need for a full-time National Director for the ombudsman program. This role was previously eliminated in 2019, causing the program to lose effectiveness.

Said legislation has received endorsement from many organizations, including the DC Ombudsman Program and the National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (NASOP).