OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM
If you or a family member needs to contact an ombudsman, call 817-546-7834 or email paula@mhatc.org
State certified staff and volunteer ombudsmen advocate for quality care of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They investigate and resolve complaints, educate about resident rights, and support resident and family councils. The ombudsmen are sometimes the only regular visitors these people see.
Tarrant County's program consistently ranks as one of the highest performing in Texas.
The ombudsmen make weekly, monthly, or quarterly monitoring visits to check on residents of long-term care facilities. Residents are interviewed and the environment is assessed through visual inspection, smelling, and listening.
Residents receive assistance in resolving complaints. The ombudsmen work with the resident/family to establish an action plan to resolve complaints, with follow-up to ensure correction.
If the ombudsman is unable to resolve the problem in matters of serious neglect or abuse, the ombudsman reports to the proper authority or the appropriate state agency.
How Do I Become a Volunteer Ombudsman?
Ombudsmen receive 36 hours of training. Upon completion of training, ombudsmen are certified through the DADS and assigned to one or more facilities. Each volunteer is supervised by a staff ombudsman.
Ombudsmen are expected to visit their homes at least 2 hours a week. During these visits, ombudsmen meet with residents, families, and staff to resolve complaints and concerns and report compliments.
For more information about being a volunteer ombudsman, please contact the Ombudsman Program at (817) 335-5405 or e-mail us at paula@mhatc.org.
Other Helpful Contact Numbers
DADS State Ombudsman Program: 1-800-252-2412.
Based on the county of origin, the caller will be routed to one of the 28 local ombudsman programs.
Department of Family and Protective Services: 1-800-252-5400. For complaints about adult abuse, neglect and exploitation in private homes and in unlicensed facilities; and for financial exploitation in nursing homes.
Texas DADS Consumer Information: 1-800-458-9858.
For complaints about nursing homes and assisted living facilities and to obtain a list of facilities and for information about state inspection (survey) reports.
Texas Department of Human Services Medicaid Eligibility: (817) 625-2161. For information about Medicaid for nursing home care.
A Few Facts About Long-Term Care in Tarrant County
· In Tarrant County each year over 11,609 people live in long term care facilities. Sixty-four percent are residents of nursing homes.
· The 241 long term care facilities include 60 nursing homes (NF), 82 licensed assisted living facilities (ALF), and 99 personal care and boarding homes.
· Nursing home resident profile: 71% are female; 15% are African-American and 4% are Hispanic; 70% are age 75+ and 33% are 85+; 60% have no regular visitors.
· Last year the volunteer and staff ombudsmen made 3,976 visits.
· The 89 volunteer ombudsmen contributed a total of 2,495 hours of service.
· The Ombudsman's Office provided information and assistance 677 times for families seeking help with long term care home placements.
· Ombudsmen conducted 113,489 resident assessment contacts (units of service): 82,632 contacts in nursing homes and 27,842 contacts in assisted living facilities.
· The ombudsmen investigated 2,807 complaints (2,287 NF and 520 ALF).
Remember--if you or a family member needs to contact an ombudsman, call 817-546-7834 or email paula@mhatc.org
More Stats and Facts about Long-Term Care in Tarrant County
In Tarrant County each year over 10,077 people live in long term care facilities.
Sixty-six percent are residents of nursing homes.
Total number of beds in Tarrant County are 13,268, of which 8687 are NF, 3779 are ALF, and 802 are unlicensed facilities.
The long term care facilities include 68 nursing homes (NF), 79 licensed assisted living facilities (ALF), and 97 unlicensed care homes - a total of 244 facilities.
Profile of nursing home residents: 67% are female; 33 % are male, 78% are Caucasian, 15% are African American, 6% are Hispanic; 1% is Asian. 1% are age 1-24, 12% are age 25-59, 21% are age 60-74, 32% are age 75-84 and 34% are 85+. Most residents have no regular visitors.
Profile of assisted living residents: 72% are female; 28% are male, 92% are Caucasian, 6% are African American. 1% are Hispanic, and 1% is Asian. 12% are age 25-59, 13% are age 60-74, 32% are age 75-84, and 43% are age 85+.
Profile of unregulated personal care homes: 54% are male and 46% are female. 57% are Caucasian, 37% are African American, 5% are Hispanic, and 1% Asian. 84% are age 25-59, 7% are age 60-74, 4% are age 75-84, and 5% are age 85+.
In 2008, staff and volunteer ombudsmen made a total 4548 monitoring visits to facilities.
The 68 nursing homes were visited an average of 3.6 times each month.
The 49 Active Certified Volunteer Ombudsmen contributed a total of 1672 hours of service.
The ombudsman office provided information and assistance 2565 times. NH I&A was 1064, ALF was 218, and Unlicensed Facilities were 1283.
Ombudsmen made 98,896 resident assessment/family contacts (units of service). There were 76,000 contacts in nursing homes, 20,618 contacts in assisted living and 2278 in care homes.
Investigated 5023 complaints (4005 NF, 740 ALF, 90 in licensed personal care homes, and 188 in unregulated care homes.)
Top 10 Complaints in 2008
Nursing Homes Assisted Living Facilities
1. Call lights/request for assistance 1. Call lights/request for assistance
2. Odors 2. Dietary: quantity and quality
3. Dietary: quantity and quality 3. Odors
4. Shortage of Staff 4. Air / environment / temperature
5. Staff unresponsive, unavailable 5. Equipment / building disrepair
6. Equipment / building disrepair 6. Cleanliness / pests
7. Personal Hygiene 7. Dignity, respect-staff attitudes
8. Cleanliness / pests 8. Medications-administration
9. Fluid availability, hydration 9. Personal Hygiene
10. Medications-administration 10.Staff unresponsive, unavailable
In Tarrant County each year over 10,077 people live in long term care facilities.
Sixty-six percent are residents of nursing homes.
Total number of beds in Tarrant County are 13,268, of which 8687 are NF, 3779 are ALF, and 802 are unlicensed facilities.
The long term care facilities include 68 nursing homes (NF), 79 licensed assisted living facilities (ALF), and 97 unlicensed care homes - a total of 244 facilities.
Profile of nursing home residents: 67% are female; 33 % are male, 78% are Caucasian, 15% are African American, 6% are Hispanic; 1% is Asian. 1% are age 1-24, 12% are age 25-59, 21% are age 60-74, 32% are age 75-84 and 34% are 85+. Most residents have no regular visitors.
Profile of assisted living residents: 72% are female; 28% are male, 92% are Caucasian, 6% are African American. 1% are Hispanic, and 1% is Asian. 12% are age 25-59, 13% are age 60-74, 32% are age 75-84, and 43% are age 85+.
Profile of unregulated personal care homes: 54% are male and 46% are female. 57% are Caucasian, 37% are African American, 5% are Hispanic, and 1% Asian. 84% are age 25-59, 7% are age 60-74, 4% are age 75-84, and 5% are age 85+.
In 2008, staff and volunteer ombudsmen made a total 4548 monitoring visits to facilities.
The 68 nursing homes were visited an average of 3.6 times each month.
The 49 Active Certified Volunteer Ombudsmen contributed a total of 1672 hours of service.
The ombudsman office provided information and assistance 2565 times. NH I&A was 1064, ALF was 218, and Unlicensed Facilities were 1283.
Ombudsmen made 98,896 resident assessment/family contacts (units of service). There were 76,000 contacts in nursing homes, 20,618 contacts in assisted living and 2278 in care homes.
Investigated 5023 complaints (4005 NF, 740 ALF, 90 in licensed personal care homes, and 188 in unregulated care homes.)
Top 10 Complaints in 2008
Nursing Homes Assisted Living Facilities
1. Call lights/request for assistance 1. Call lights/request for assistance
2. Odors 2. Dietary: quantity and quality
3. Dietary: quantity and quality 3. Odors
4. Shortage of Staff 4. Air / environment / temperature
5. Staff unresponsive, unavailable 5. Equipment / building disrepair
6. Equipment / building disrepair 6. Cleanliness / pests
7. Personal Hygiene 7. Dignity, respect-staff attitudes
8. Cleanliness / pests 8. Medications-administration
9. Fluid availability, hydration 9. Personal Hygiene
10. Medications-administration 10.Staff unresponsive, unavailable
[Home] [About MHATC] [Board of Officers] [Financial Supporters] [Donate] [Service Navigation] [Advocacy] [Education] [Scholarships] [Warm Line] [Coalitions] [Peer Activities] [Support Groups] [WRAP]
[Abriendo Puertas] [Ombudsman ] [Assisted Living] [Nursing Homes] [Contact Us] [Searchable Database] [Links] [Fact Sheets] [Site Map]
[Abriendo Puertas] [Ombudsman ] [Assisted Living] [Nursing Homes] [Contact Us] [Searchable Database] [Links] [Fact Sheets] [Site Map]