Ombudsman

The office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides consumer protection advocacy services to individuals residing in long-term care facilities consisting of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, specialty care facilities and boarding homes.

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Ombudsmen work to protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of Alabama's long-term care residents. Anyone can use an Ombudsman, including residents, residents' family and friends, or employees of long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen work to:

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• Resolve residents' problems

• Protect residents' rights

• Ensure residents receive fair treatment and quality care

• Investigate and resolve complaints

• Educate residents, family, and faculty staff

• Provide information to the public

• Advocate to bring about changes at the local, state, and national levels to improve the lives of residents in long-term care facilities

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Long-Term Care Resident Rights

Residents in a long-term care facility have the right to:

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• Be treated with respect and dignity

• Be free from chemical and physical restraints

• Voice grievances without fear of retaliation

• Associate and communicate privately with any person of their choice

• Send and receive personal mail

• Have personal and medical records kept confidential

• Apply for state and federal assistance without discrimination

• Be fully informed prior to admission for their rights, services available, and all financial charges

• Be given advance notice of transfer or discharge

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Contact the Alabama Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Director, Virginia Moore-Bell at 1.334.242.5753. Complainants may be filed in writing, by phone, or in person. Complainants do not have to give their name and all information is confidential.