Every state has an ombudsman programme, funded under the Older Americans Act. They visit facilities, take complaints from residents and families, and work to resolve them; they can also explain residents' rights before a problem arises.
They do not oversee in-home care agencies, but they are the right call if a parent is in a facility and something is wrong.
Why it matters
It is free, independent of the facility, and most families have never heard of it.
Further reading: National Consumer Voice, ombudsman directory
Long-term care ombudsman where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tucson, AZ