Ombudsman for Long Term Care

The South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) provides advocacy services to residents of long-term care facilities. Ombudsman will investigate any complaint and will negotiate on the resident’s behalf to resolve the complaint to the resident’s satisfaction. It is the only program that is totally devoted to the concerns of facility residents.

The LTCOP is governed by the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended. The South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging administers the statewide LTCOP through ten area agencies on aging located throughout the state. The program is funded with federal, state, and local dollars. There is no charge for services provided by the Ombudsman Program.

What does the Long Term Care Ombudsman do?

• Advocates on the behalf of long-term care residents and/or mediates for change.
• Investigates and works to resolve problems or complaints affecting long term care residents.
• Provides information about long-term care and related services.
• Promotes resident, family, and community involvement in long-term care.
• Educates the community about the needs of long-term care residents.
• Coordinates the efforts with other agencies concerned with long-term care.
• Visits long-term care facilities to talk to residents and monitor conditions.
• Educates facility staff about residents’ rights and other issues.

What types of issues does an Ombudsman handle?

• Residents’rights
• Quality of care
• Abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Transfers and discharges

Friendly Visitors

In addition to the Ombudsmen staff, the LTCOP is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who are locally recruited and placed at a specific long-term care facility. Studies have shown that almost 60 percent of residents in facilities never have visitors. Across the nation, friendly visitors take the time to talk with residents and help them to resolve issues with the facility that they may not feel comfortable doing themselves.