Ombudsman

Who are Ombudsman?

Ombudsman (Ombuds) are men and women trained to respond to the problems and needs of residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

What do Ombuds do?

  • Work with residents, their families, facilities, community organizations, and other interested parties to address concerns affecting residents.
  • Ensure that residents receive the best possible care and are treated with respect and dignity.
  • Listen, provide information, and assist residents in solving problems.
  • Ensure that residents of long-term care facilities receive the best possible care and that their rights are protected and promoted.
  • Advocate for improvements in care and quality of life.
  • Educate the public, caregivers, and residents about their rights and efforts to improve care.
  • Investigate, mediate, and resolve concerns & complaints from residents and their families.

What kind of problems do the Ombuds respond to?

  • Ombuds are interested in any problem, complaint, or concern a resident may have.
  • Common problems are with the quality of care, food, finances, activities, visitation, and the ability to exercise their rights as a resident or citizen.

Who should contact an Ombuds?

  • Anyone with questions or concerns about the care or treatment a resident receives should contact an Ombuds.

Resident’s Rights: A Guide

What rights do you have as a nursing home resident?

ALL of the rights every other citizen enjoys, plus additional rights that have to do with life in a long-term care facility.

Here is a partial listing of these additional rights:

Health Care

  • To receive adequate and appropriate health care and protective and support services
  • To be free of physical restraints not documented as medically necessary
  • To have your choice of pharmacy and physician
  • To withhold payment for physician visitation if the physician did not examine you
  • To be transferred or discharged only after reasonable notice is given and only for medical reasons, the welfare of other residents, or for non-payment
  • To be protected from transfer or discharge from a Title XIX certified facility solely because the source of payment changes

Information

  • To be informed of your rights, the rules and regulations of the nursing home
  • To receive prompt response to all reasonable requests and inquiries
  • To have any significant change in your health status reported to you
  • To be informed of your condition and planned medical treatment, and to participate in or refuse that treatment
  • To examine the results of the most recent survey conducted by state or federal surveyors of the facility
  • To be informed of the bed reservation policy for hospitalization
  • To be told of all services available and all costs, including charges covered or not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the basic per diem rate

Individual Liberties

  • To exercise your civil and religious liberties
  • To exercise your rights as a resident and a citizen
  • To complain and make suggestions without fear of coercion or retaliation
  • To be treated courteously, fairly and with the fullest measure of dignity
  • To be free of mental and physical abuse
  • To take part in various activities of the long-term care facility
  • To be free not to perform work
  • To choose a roommate, when possible
  • To have your clothing and possessions
  • To manage your personal affairs,
    • if this is delegated to the facility, to receive an accounting report every three months upon request
  • To retire and rise in accord with reasonable requests
  • To consume a reasonable amount of alcoholic beverages, with some restrictions
  • To use tobacco in accordance with applicable policies, rules, and law
  • To have ample opportunity to visit with family and friends
  • To share a room with your spouse, if he/she is a resident of the same nursing home and both consent

Privacy

  • To be treated with consideration and respect for your privacy
  • To send and receive unopened mail
  • To receive visitors in privacy
  • To have your personal and medical records treated confidentially
  • To have regular access to private use of a telephone
  • To refuse to serve as a medical research subject

Caddo Council on Aging

Shreveport Ombudsman Regional Service Provider
1700 Buckner St, Suite 151
Shreveport, Louisiana 71109
Contact: Casandra Cesare, Ombudsman Manager
Telephone: 318-676-7900 or 800- 256-3003
Fax: 318-676-7911

Parishes Served:

Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, Webster

It’s our turn to take care of
Those who have cared for us.