Family Councils | Rights of Family Councils | Getting Started | Regional Ombudsmen | Organization and Structure | Barriers Facing Family Councils Confronting the Fear of Retaliation | Concern and Complaint Resolution
Outreach | My Family Council | Why Facilities Want Family Councils

What is an ombudsman and what do they do?

The ombudsman program was created in the early 1970's by the National Older Americans Act to protect the rights of nursing home residents by investigating and resolving their complaints.

The Administration on Aging recognized that the individual in the nursing home or long-term care facilities is powerless and needs an organized voice.

The ombudsman program was started to organize the community as a way of protecting residents' rights.

One way of organizing the community is through family councils.

Under federal law, the ombudsman shall provide technical support for the development of resident and family councils to protect the well-being and rights of residents.

Currently, there are seventeen regional ombudsman programs throughout the State of Illinois that work under the auspices of the Illinois Department on Aging.

The ombudsman program assures residents receive quality care and a dignity of life at the highest practical level. Certified ombudsmen visit residents age 60 or older in long-term care facilities monthly.

A family council needs an ombudsman for the following:

• Informing families and residents of residents' rights;
• Informing residents and families of the right to organize; and
• Providing technical support for family councils.

All to facilitate the resolution of problems and complaints concerning the well-being of residents, and to assure a quality of life.

It is important to remember that the ombudsman is a resource and a support provider. While the role of the ombudsman is to inform families of the benefits of a family council, a family member is the best catalyst in empowering families to start a family council.

The families are the decision-makers about the family councils.