Riverside County
Long-Term Care
Ombudsman Program

Advocate, Educate, Empower.

The primary responsibility of the Riverside County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) is to investigate and resolve complaints related to the health, safety, welfare, and rights of individuals who currently live in long-term care facilities. These facilities include over 550 nursing homes, board and care, assisted living facilities, and other residential care communities for the elderly across Riverside County.
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are state-certified staff and volunteers that advocate for the rights of residents of LTC facilities with the goal of ensuring their dignity, quality of life, and quality of care. Ombudsman programs are required to:

  • Identify, investigate, and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents

  • Provide information to residents about long-term care services (LTSS)

  • Ensure that residents have regular and timely access to Ombudsman services

  • Represent the interests of residents before governmental agencies

  • Seek administrative, legal, and other remedies to protect residents

  • Analyze, comment on, and recommend changes in laws and regulations pertaining to the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents

Services are Free & Confidential

Do You Need Help?

Call us at:
24-Hour CA CRISISline
(800) 231-4024


RS Toll-Free

(833) 772-6624


RS LTCOP

(909) 581-6649

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services – Resident Advocacy

Long-Term Care Ombudsman representatives assist residents in long-term care facilities with issues related to day-to-day care, health, safety, and personal preferences. Problems can include, but are not limited to:

  • Violation of residents’ rights or dignity

  • Physical, verbal, mental, or financial abuse

  • Poor quality of care

  • Dietary concerns

  • Medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation issues

  • Medicare and Medi-Cal benefit issues

  • Improper transfer or discharge of a resident

  • Inappropriate use of chemical or physical restraints

Who Can File a Complaint of Abuse or Neglect?

  • Residents of any nursing home or board and care facility, including assisted living facilities

  • A family member or friend of a nursing home resident

  • A nursing home administrator or employee with a concern about a resident at their facility

  • Any individual or citizen’s group interested in the welfare of residents

  • Individuals and families who are considering long-term care placement

Know Your Resident Bill of Rights

Ombudsmen help residents and their families and friends understand and exercise their rights guaranteed by both federal and state law. Nursing homes are required to inform residents of these rights and protect and promote their rights.
If a resident is incapable of exercising his or her rights, the person designated by law, such as conservator or attorney-in-fact, or in most cases, the next of kin, or representative payee, may exercise these rights.
Click here for the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) Fact Sheet and Outline of Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.

Long-Term Care Resident & Family Councils

What is a Resident Council?

Resident Councils are organized, self-governing, decision-making groups of long-term care residents meeting regularly to voice their needs and concerns and to have input into the activities, policies, and issues affecting their lives in the facility.

What is a Family Council?

A family council is a self-led, self-determining group of consumers -families and friends of nursing home residents that:

  • Works to improve the quality of care and quality of life of the facility’s residents.

  • Provides families with a voice in decision-making that affects them and their loved ones.

Our LTC Ombudsman can provide more information about Resident Councils as well as assist family and friends in starting a Family Council of their own.

RESOURCES

Become a Volunteer Ombudsman

Are you interested in using your time and talents to serve as an advocate for nursing home and assisted living facility residents?
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is looking for volunteers to serve as certified Ombudsmen to improve the quality of care and quality of life for residents living in long-term care facilities throughout Riverside County.
Every new Ombudsman representative completes a minimum of 36 hours of training as well as a supervised internship. After being certified, Ombudsman representatives must complete a minimum of 12 hours of ongoing education each year.

Certified Ombudsmen are indispensable in ensuring that all facilities meet mandated, legal standards for every person requiring long-term care.

To volunteer for the Riverside County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program call or learn more at coasc.org/helpingothers.
For other program information and services please fill out the fields below:
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LTCO Logo
This local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is partially supported by federal, State and Riverside County funds to advocate for residents of long-term care facilities.