Ombudsman for Nursing Homes

What Is an Ombudsman in a Nursing Home?

A long-term care ombudsman (LTC ombudsman) is a free, independent advocate for residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other care settings.

Residents and their loved ones can bring complaints or concerns to an ombudsman. They investigate complaints confidentially to help resolve problems and protect residents’ rights.

Sometimes, though, families need additional support, such as when a loved one is harmed due to nursing home abuse or neglect. In these cases, it may be best to connect with an experienced nursing home attorney.

A skilled lawyer may be able to help you file a lawsuit to hold the negligent nursing home accountable. This can mean financial compensation and justice.

“We’ve helped families recover hundreds of millions of dollars in nursing home neglect settlements and verdicts across the country.”

– Ricky LeBlanc, Nursing Home Lawyer at Sokolove Law

The Nursing Home Abuse Center partners with a network of experienced nursing home abuse attorneys. Our legal partners have secured over $327 million for abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities nationwide.

Find out if you may be eligible for compensation right now with a free case review.

Get a Free Case Review by

Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.

Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310

Quick Facts: Ombudsman Nursing Homes (2026)

Below are the latest facts and figures from the National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS).

• Ombudsman programs worked on 205,332 complaints from residents, families, and other concerned individuals.
• 72% of complaints were resolved or partially resolved to the satisfaction of the resident or complainant.
• Ombudsman representatives made 379,982 visits to more than 50,000 long-term care facilities.
• The program provided information and assistance 543,676 times to residents, families, and other concerned individuals.
• The 3 most common nursing home complaints were discharge or eviction, response to requests for assistance, and physical abuse.

Nursing Home Ombudsman Basics

What Does an Ombudsman for Nursing Homes Do?

Ombudsman nursing home programs offer a variety of services to protect older adults against nursing home neglect and abuse.

Learn more about ombudsman nursing home services below.

Assists With Nursing Home Abuse Reporting

A nursing home ombudsman provides a vital resource for people to report nursing home abuse. This is especially true for families of residents who cannot advocate for themselves due to dementia or other disabilities.

The ombudsman can check in with nursing home residents and address any issues or concerns.

An ombudsman for nursing homes can handle complaints related to:

• Falls and fractures
• Lack of health care for disabilities or illnesses
• Medication errors
• Neglect, including untreated bedsores
• Nursing home injuries
• Personal hygiene
• Physical abuse
• Poor food quality
• Sexual assaults
• Unanswered requests for help
• Verbal and emotional abuse by staff
• Wrongful eviction

All complaints a nursing home ombudsman receives are confidential unless the resident or family member gives permission otherwise. This means issues can be addressed without fear of staff retaliation.

Enhances Care Through Ombudsman Nursing Home Services

Beyond addressing individual complaints, an ombudsman for nursing homes also improves the quality of care that residents receive. They do this by visiting nursing homes and making suggestions to help residents.

“Our bread and butter, what we do every day, is visit facilities, talk and meet with residents, get to know them, build trust and rapport with them, then gather information as to what their concerns are about.”

– Patricia Hunter, MSW, nursing home ombudsman

By visiting a facility, an ombudsman may improve the standard of care since nursing home staff members know they are being monitored by a third party. During these visits, the ombudsman can also look for possible signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Further, a nursing home ombudsman can inform residents of their rights while they live in the facility and help families create care plans.

Holds Negligent Nursing Homes Responsible

After receiving a complaint, an ombudsman for nursing homes can take concrete steps to resolve residents’ problems. This includes reporting nursing home abuse to administrators or the proper legal channels.

“Federal law gives each nursing home resident the right to quality care and quality of life. This includes freedom from neglect, abuse, exploitation, and misappropriation of property.”

– The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care Fact Sheet

By reporting cases of abuse, ombudsman nursing home advocates help hold facilities to the standard of care set by federal and state laws, ultimately improving residents’ quality of life and preventing elder abuse.

For example, a facility might fire abusive staff and create new rules to keep residents safe after an ombudsman explains that residents are being abused. The ombudsman may also recommend legal options to protect residents.

Find out if you may be able to take legal action right now with a free consultation.

Get a Free Case Review by

Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.

Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310

Works With Government Agencies

Ombudsman nursing home programs are run by the Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

That requires an ombudsman for nursing homes to work closely with government departments at the local, state, and federal levels to keep older adults safe. They play a key role in elder abuse cases by addressing reports of mistreatment, advocating for residents’ rights, and working to improve care standards.

All ombudsman programs that monitor care homes and assisted living facilities enter records from each visit into the NORS database.

The NORS system stores data on:

• How many facilities have been visited
• How many hours have been spent in each facility
• What kinds of complaints have been handled or resolved

As part of their reports, a nursing home ombudsman notes which complaints are common, which ones are the most severe, and where elder care falls short in specific facilities.

The data that ombudsman nursing home programs collect helps government officials address systemic issues affecting older adults nationwide.

When Do You Need a Nursing Home Ombudsman?

Residents and families may need to work with an ombudsman for nursing homes if they can’t resolve issues by working directly with staff members or administrators.

Working with an ombudsman for nursing homes is crucial when concerns arise about care, safety, and resident rights in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. They step in to advocate for residents, address complaints, and resolve problems.

Take our Nursing Home Abuse Quiz if you suspect you may need the help of an ombudsman for nursing homes.

Were You or a Loved One Abused or Neglected?

Take Our Nursing Home Abuse Quiz

While many elders face health problems as they age, they should never have to suffer from abuse or neglect. Take this quiz to help you identify possible signs of nursing home abuse and learn about next steps.

Let's Begin:

Who may have suffered nursing home abuse or neglect?

Myself

Family

Friend

Other

Nursing Home Abuse Quiz for:

Question 1

Do your requests for help from staff ever go unanswered for long spans of time?

Yes

No

Question 2

Is medical care hard to access?

Yes

No

Question 3

Do nurses, doctors, and other staff treat you badly or without respect?

Yes

No

Question 4

Have you fallen frequently while living in the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 5

Have you ever been screamed at or belittled by a staff member or another resident?

Yes

No

Question 6

Have you ever been hit, kicked, bit, or otherwise physically harmed by a staff member or another resident?

Yes

No

Question 7

Have you experienced unwanted touching, groping, or other forms of contact from staff members or visitors?

Yes

No

Question 8

Have your personal items (contacts, hearing aids, credit cards, checks, etc.) ever gone missing?

Yes

No

Question 9

Do you have to wait a long time (several days) for staff to help you wash your body, clothes, or bedsheets?

Yes

No

Question 10

Have you developed serious health problems (infections, bedsores, etc.) while living at the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 1

Have you noticed any strange changes in the resident since they moved into a nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 2

Does the resident have any injuries (cuts, broken bones, bruises, etc.)?

Yes

No

Question 3

Has the resident complained about the quality of care they’re receiving in the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 4

Does the resident appear more sad, angry, or confused than normal?

Yes

No

Question 5

Has the resident suffered from repeated falls while at the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 6

Is the resident’s body, clothing, or bed sheets often dirty?

Yes

No

Question 7

Has the resident developed any serious health problems (infections, bedsores, etc.) while living at the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 8

Have you noticed any signs of sexual abuse (STDs, injuries around genitals, inappropriate relationships with other residents or staff)?

Yes

No

Question 9

Have you noticed other residents or staff getting angry or yelling?

Yes

No

Question 10

Did the resident pass away while living in or shortly after living in a nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 1

Does anything seem strange when you visit the facility (unfriendly staff/residents, dirty beds or rooms, etc.)?

Yes

No

Question 2

Has the resident complained about the quality of care they’re receiving in the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 3

Has the resident’s mood recently changed for the worse (new onset of fear, depression, and/or anxiety)?

Yes

No

Question 4

Does the resident have any injuries (cuts, broken bones, bruises, etc.) or appear unclean (dirty hair/clothes/skin)?

Yes

No

Question 5

Has the resident suffered from repeated falls while at the facility?

Yes

No

Question 6

Have you noticed any signs of sexual abuse (STDs, injuries around genitals, and/or inappropriate relationships with other residents or staff)?

Yes

No

Question 7

Has the resident developed any serious health problems (infections, bedsores, etc.) while living at the nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 8

Do the resident’s family members only visit on rare occasions?

Yes

No

Question 9

Did the resident pass away while living in or shortly after living in a nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 10

Have you brought your concerns to the attention of the resident’s family members, friends, or authorities?

Yes

No

Question 1

Does anything seem strange when you visit the facility (unfriendly staff/other residents, unkempt bedding or rooms, etc.)?

Yes

No

Question 2

Does the resident appear withdrawn, agitated, or confused?

Yes

No

Question 3

Does the resident have any injuries (cuts, broken bones, bruises, etc.) or appear unclean (dirty hair/clothes/skin)?

Yes

No

Question 4

Does the resident have a serious health problem (bedsore, infection, untreated injury, etc.) that doesn’t seem to be getting addressed?

Yes

No

Question 5

Has the resident suffered from repeated falls while at the facility?

Yes

No

Question 6

Do staff members and other personnel seem concerned for the resident’s well-being?

Yes

No

Question 7

Does the facility seem well-kept (clean rooms, hallways, restrooms, and dining areas)?

Yes

No

Question 8

Do the resident’s friends and family members only visit occasionally?

Yes

No

Question 9

Did the resident pass away while living in or shortly after living in a nursing home?

Yes

No

Question 10

Have you brought your concerns to the attention of the resident’s family members, friends, or authorities?

Yes

No

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Results

From your answers, we’ve noted possible signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.

This quiz is meant to help you better understand possible signs of abuse to keep you and your loved one safe.

If you are concerned that nursing home abuse or neglect is taking place, contact our team right now. We can assess your case and recommend next steps. Chat with us or call (855) 264-6310.

We can connect you with top nursing home abuse law firms.

Start My Free Case Review

*This result does not guarantee that you or your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse. Call 911 if your loved one is in immediate danger.

Take Quiz Again

Who Is My Local Ombudsman?

Your local ombudsman is a trained advocate assigned to your state or region to help nursing home and assisted living residents with concerns about their care.

Every state has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) that oversees local offices.

Each ombudsman for nursing homes works independently from care facilities, ensuring residents’ rights are upheld and complaints are addressed.

If you need assistance, finding your local ombudsman is the first step.

How Do I Contact My Local Ombudsman?

You can find contact information for an ombudsman for assisted living in your area through the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center’s list of local ombudsman offices.

This site provides names, phone numbers, and addresses for every state’s LTCOP.

Alternatively, you can call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, a public service connecting older adults and their caregivers with information on senior services.

Your local Area Agency on Aging is another useful resource for ombudsman contact details.

Get Help for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

You can contact your local office to get help from an ombudsman nursing home program. A staff member or volunteer can help advocate for residents who have suffered elder abuse or neglect. They can also help investigate the situation.

You should always call 911 in any emergency. When nursing home abuse or neglect leads to harm, you may be able to seek legal assistance from a skilled nursing home lawyer instead.

By taking legal action, your family can:

• Find closure after nursing home abuse or neglect
• Seek financial compensation for health care costs and other expenses
• Hold abusive nursing facility staff and other care providers accountable

Call (855) 264-6310 right now or get a free legal case review to start the process.