The Long Term Care Ombudsmen Program (LTCOP), as required under the Older Americans Act, is the voice of residents and families of those who reside in State Licensed Long Term Care Facilities. These highly trained hands-on volunteers are often the first ones to respond to complaints and concerns lodged by residents and their families regarding their rights, their safety, and the quality of services being provided.

However, due to inadequate State& Federal funding, many older adults in long term care facilities have no regular Ombudsman and receive no routine visits as required by law.

We urge the legislature to protect these vulnerable older adults by increasing funding to this critical program