Abstract
Since its inception in 1972, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) has played a critical role in protecting and promoting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care residents by maintaining a regular presence in facilities nationwide. Dramatic changes in the long-term care landscape, however, including the rapid aging of the U.S. population and the tremendous growth of non-institutional residential options, have placed increasing demands on programs. Based on data from the National Ombudsman Reporting System, we describe national trends in ombudsman staffing and volunteer capacity in serving long-term care residents. While nursing homes and beds have been steadily declining as the field moves toward more board and care type facilities, the overall number of facilities and residents requiring ombudsman services has increased by nearly 11% from 2006 to 2014. During this period, the number of paid staff has remained fairly stable but the number of volunteer ombudsmen (who serve as key advocates for residents) has decreased by 11%. From 2006 to 2014, quarterly visits to nursing homes and board and care facilities have declined by 10% and 14%, respectively. While the increase in facilities overall presents challenges to maintaining regular visits, the loss of volunteers may have exasperated these challenges. As the elderly population and the number of long-term care facilities continue to grow, the LTCOP will increasingly be a vital resource for residents, particularly for vulnerable elders. Understanding the program’s ability to advocate on their behalf is critical to ensure that all residents receive quality care.