Ombudsmen are

Courtesy of Texas Health and Human Services

Along-term care ombudsman not only enforces, but also helps nursing home residents to understand their rights. Living in a nursing home doesn’t mean giving up your freedom.

If you feel someone is violating you or your loved one’s rights, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s long-term care ombudsman can help.

Nursing home residents have the same rights and protections of their health, safety and welfare that we all share. For nursing home residents, these rights include the right to vote, voice complaints, exercise personal choice, the opportunity to make medical and social decisions, visit with anyone they wish, and to be lawfully discharged and leave the facility.

One of the most common issues one might face when being discharged is to potentially lose their spot in the nursing home they were initially admitted to. This practice, known as “patient dumping,” is among the top five frequent complaints Patty Ducayet, Texas long-term care ombudsman, sees.

The long-term care ombudsman will make sure the individual knows their rights, including the right to appeal and return to the nursing home after a hospital stay, and can represent them during that appeal.

Call 800-458-9858 to report suspected elder abuse or neglect that occurs in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, day activity and health services. You can also report care concerns about home health and hospice agencies.

Often the most direct and expedient way to ensure your issue is addressed is to inform the skilled nursing facility’s management team, but the Texas Health and Human Services Commission stands by ready to help if needed.

According to Texas Health and Human Services, some of the ways long-term care ombudsmen help nursing home and assisted living residents include:

• Listening to residents and family members when they have concerns or issues. • Telling residents about their rights. • Protecting resident health, safety, welfare and rights. • Helping families learn about nursing homes and how to pay for them. • Working to solve problems and making sure state regulations and laws protect residents.

“An ombudsman can help bring the resident’s concerns to management and offer ideas to address the concern,” Ducayet said. “An ombudsman can give everyone information about the nursing facility’s requirements about residents’ rights and will tell the resident about the option to report a complaint to HHSC LongTerm Care Regulatory Services.”

For more information on the ombudsman in your area:

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