COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES
S•S
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES
Pueblo Long-Term Ombudsman What is the Long-Term Care Program Ombudsman Program? The Pueblo Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of skilled nursing homes, and licensed assisted living residences. The authority of the long-term care ombudsman program comes from the Older Americans Act, as well as from the Older Coloradans Act. The primary purpose of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to promote and protect the residents’ rights guaranteed these residents under federal and state law. We achieve this mission with a network of local offices across the state, which recruit, train, and manage teams of certified ombudsmen. Staff and volunteer ombudsmen visit long-term care facilities throughout the state to ensure residents’ rights are being upheld. Certified Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are trained to receive complaints and resolve problems in situations involving quality of care, use of restraints, transfer and discharge, abuse, and other aspects of resident dignity and rights. Ombudsman services are free, confidential and resident directed. Who Can Use the Ombudsman Program? n
R esidents of skilled nursing homes and licensed assisted living residences
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R elatives and friends of residents
46 SOUTHERN COLORADO – SPRING 2022-2023
in licensed long-term care facilities such as Assisted Living residences or licensed residential group homes n
A ny group or individual concerned about the welfare of residents of long-term care facilities
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A nyone can call the Ombudsman Program at 303-862-3524
Some Reasons Why People Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program n
V iolations of rights — privacy issues, loss of dignity issues, poor staff attitudes, emotional and verbal abuse, etc.
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P roblems with transfers and discharges — improperly discharged, service fees not disclosed, refused readmission, Medicaid discrimination, etc.
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P roblems with care — call lights not being answered, problems with receiving medications, poor hygiene, etc.
Ombudsman Contact Information: Rebecca Marquez Phone: 719-583-6123 Email: rmarquez@srda.org ~ Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Tara Morrow, SRDA Deputy Director. For more information, contact the SRDA Active Adult Center at 719554-8900. See ad on page 47.
