US Senator Bob Casey along with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine have introduced a bill to improve the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.
The “Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act” would order the Administration for Community Living to establish categories of duties and appropriate training requirements for volunteers; reaffirm Congress’ intent that the Ombudsman program should be led by a full-time National Director; and require that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study and issue a report with a recommendation for the number of ombudsmen per long-term-care facility bed. These ombudsmen advocate for residents in long-term care facilities and monitor conditions and care within those organizations.
Casey said that the bill will make sure that the program has the “resources, leadership and personnel to continue its critical work safeguarding” people in those facilities. In 2023, nearly 5,400 Ombudsman program staff and volunteers conducted over 340,000 visits to long-term care facilities, assisting over 500,000 residents and their families.
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