Long-Term Care Ombudsman AAA HomeAbout AAAAboutRegional MapMission StatementDementia Friendly Corpus Christi Advisory CouncilAdvisory CouncilSub-CommitteesBy LawsAdvisory Council MembersACOA Agenda & MinutesProgramsProgramsTransportationSenior CentersMedication ManagementMatter of BalanceMIPPAOmbudsmanNutrition ProvidersHome-Delivered Meal SitesCongregate Meal SitesInformation Referral & AssistanceFamily CaregiverCare CoordinationBenefits CounselingResourcesResourcesAging DirectoryNewslettersCalendar of EventsHelpful LinksContact Us Everyone living in a nursing facility or assisted living facility deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to have their rights honored.The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Trained and certified staff and volunteer ombudsmen work with residents to protect their rights, address concerns, resolve complaints, and support quality of life and quality of care.Ombudsmen provide information and advocacy to residents and may also work with family members, facility staff, and others when doing so supports the resident's wishes and goals.How an Ombudsman Can HelpAn ombudsman can:Listen to concerns and help residents understand their options.Provide information about residents' rights and long-term care services.Identify, investigate, and work to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents.Help residents communicate concerns to facility staff.Support residents in resolving problems related to their care, services, rights, or quality of life.Provide information to residents and families about nursing facility and assisted living requirements and available community resources.Support resident and family councils.Provide information that can help consumers evaluate long-term care options.Refer residents to other programs or agencies when they need additional assistance.The Resident Comes FirstThe Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is resident-directed. The ombudsman's role is to understand the resident's concerns, explain available options, and advocate for the outcome the resident wants whenever possible.Ombudsmen help residents understand their rights so they can make informed decisions about their care and quality of life.Residents' RightsPeople living in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities have important rights. An ombudsman can help residents understand these rights and advocate when they have concerns.Concerns may involve issues such as:Dignity and respectful treatmentChoice and participation in carePrivacyQuality of care and quality of lifeFood and dietary concernsPersonal propertyDischarge or transfer concernsCommunication with facility staffVisitation and access to othersFacility services or living conditionsOther concerns affecting a resident's rights, health, safety, welfare, or quality of lifeWhen Should You Contact an Ombudsman?You do not have to wait until a concern becomes a serious problem to contact an ombudsman. Residents, family members, and others may contact the program for information, guidance, or assistance with a concern involving a nursing facility or assisted living facility.When appropriate, you may discuss a concern directly with facility staff first. However, you may contact an ombudsman if you are uncomfortable raising the concern yourself, need information about your options, or would like assistance addressing the problem.An ombudsman can listen to the concern, explain residents' rights, discuss possible courses of action, and work with the resident toward resolution. Depending on the issue and the resident's wishes, resolution may involve facility staff, the care-planning process, a resident council, a family council, or another appropriate resource.Confidentiality and Resident ChoiceOmbudsman services are confidential. Protecting residents' privacy, preferences, and rights is central to the program.An ombudsman will discuss the resident's concerns and possible options and work to obtain the resident's direction before taking action or disclosing identifying information, except as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law and program requirements.Concerns About Abuse, Neglect or Immediate SafetyAn ombudsman can help residents understand their options when concerns involve possible abuse, neglect, exploitation, or unsafe conditions. Depending on the circumstances and applicable requirements, other agencies may also respond to or investigate a concern.For complaints or concerns involving a nursing facility or assisted living facility that need the attention of Texas Health and Human Services Long-Term Care Regulation, call:HHSC Complaint and Incident Intake:1-800-458-9858For suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation in the community, contact:Texas Abuse Hotline:1-800-252-5400If someone is in immediate danger or there is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.Choosing a Long-Term Care FacilityChoosing a nursing facility or assisted living facility is an important decision. The Ombudsman Program can provide information to help residents and families better understand long-term care services, residents' rights, and questions to consider when evaluating a facility.An ombudsman does not select a facility for you, but can provide information and resources that may help you make an informed decision.Contact a Coastal Bend OmbudsmanThe Coastal Bend Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program serves residents of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in:Aransas CountyBee CountyBrooks CountyDuval CountyJim Wells CountyKenedy CountyKleberg CountyLive Oak CountyNueces CountyRefugio CountySan Patricio CountyCoastal Bend Long-Term Care OmbudsmanPhone: (361) 946-5467Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend2910 Leopard StreetCorpus Christi, TX 78408Main Phone: (361) 883-3935Texas State Long-Term Care OmbudsmanThe Texas State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides advocacy and support for people living in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities throughout Texas.State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Hotline:1-800-252-2412Email: ltc.ombudsman@hhsc.state.tx.usLong-Term Care Ombudsman ResourcesTexas State Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramStatement of Residents' RightsTexas Health and Human Services Long-Term Care RegulationFind and Compare Long-Term Care ProvidersBecome a Volunteer OmbudsmanVolunteer ombudsmen make an important difference in the lives of people living in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. The Coastal Bend Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program seeks caring, dependable volunteers who want to advocate for residents' rights, quality of care, and quality of life.Volunteer ombudsmen visit nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, talk with residents, listen to concerns, provide information about residents' rights, and work with program staff to address problems residents identify.What Volunteer Ombudsmen DoVisit residents of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities.Listen to residents' questions and concerns.Provide information about residents' rights.Help identify and communicate concerns affecting residents.Provide information about available resources.Advocate for residents' choices, dignity, quality of care, and quality of life.Volunteer Training and CertificationPrevious professional experience in long-term care is not required. Volunteer ombudsmen receive training and must meet the Texas State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program's certification requirements before independently performing ombudsman duties.Ombudsman representatives must also meet conflict-of-interest requirements so their advocacy remains focused on residents' interests and rights.Volunteers should be prepared to commit to ongoing visits with residents and participation in the program. Contact the Coastal Bend Ombudsman Program to learn about current volunteer requirements, training, and available assignments.Other Volunteer OpportunitiesOther volunteer opportunities may also be available with the Area Agency on Aging, including general office assistance such as answering telephone calls, filing, preparing mailings, making copies, and assisting with data entry.For current volunteer opportunities, contact the Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend.