Transcript Slide 1
Welcome to Pennsylvania’s
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Training
Standardized Orientation
FY 2013-14
Welcome
We welcome you to the Pennsylvania State
Long-Term Care Ombudsman team.
You are joining a unique and dedicated
group of individuals comprised of over 500
staff, sub-contractors, volunteers, and over
2,000 trained residents through the
Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents
(PEER) Program.
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Today’s Agenda
History of Ombudsman Program
PA State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office
Expectations of Local Ombudsmen
Elements of the Ombudsman Program
Ombudsman Roles
PEER Program
Types of Facilities & Services Ombudsman Serve
Resident Rights
Resources
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Our Vision . . .
“Advocate for those who can’t,
support those who can,
and ensure all long-term care consumers
live with dignity and respect.”
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The Starfish Story
Why is the Starfish Story so important to us?
It’s all about “Making a Difference.”
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History of Ombudsman Program
Older Americans Act of 1965 established the Ombudsman
Program – Swedish term meaning “citizen representative”
– In 1978, the law mandated that every state have an Ombudsman
program for nursing home complaints
– In 1981, the law expanded the program to encompass personal care
homes, assisted living residences, and domiciliary care homes
– In 1987, the creation of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office
and training requirements for ombudsmen prior to investigating
complaints
– In 1992, required that residents have regular and timely access to
ombudsman
For more information, visit the National Ombudsman Resource
Center at
https://sites.google.com/site/historyandroleofltcop/home-1
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National Level
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) is the federal
agency responsible for oversight of all Ombudsman
programs across the country. For more information visit the
AoA website at www.aoa.gov.
In 2011, national statistics on Ombudsman programs
reported –
– 1,186 paid program staff and 9,065 volunteers, certified to
resolve complaints
– 289,668 consultations to individuals
– 134,775 new cases
– 204,044 complaints, with top complaints regarding discharge,
respect/poor staff attitudes, food, medications, & resident
conflict
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State Level
PA State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is
federally funded via Title VII under the OAA, and the
Pennsylvania Lottery provides state funding.
The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
(State Office) is located at the PA Department of Aging
and is comprised of –
─ State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
─ Division Chief
─ Specialists
─ Regional Ombudsmen (4 regions)
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State Level Requirements
The State Office is responsible for statewide operations of the program in
partnership with the 52 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 67 counties in the
commonwealth. This includes –
Implementation of policies/procedures to meet federal standards
Certify local ombudsmen (tier-based system)
Develop training curricula and conduct trainings to certify local
ombudsmen via a tier-based system: Standardized Orientation (prerequisite), Tier I (Basic), Tier II (Advanced), and Tenured Track
Conduct quality performance via monitoring of local programs, and
provide technical assistance to local agencies
Access to the OmbudsManager, the statewide reporting system to
capture local activities
Publish federal and state annual reports to meet reporting requirements
Organize and provide an annual conference for ombudsmen enrichment
purposes and quarterly regional network meetings
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Local Level Requirements
Include, but are not limited to –
Receive, investigate, and resolve complaints
Maintain complaint and case data to meet reporting
requirements and report to State Office
Provide information and education about ombudsman
program and rights of consumers
Visit each licensed facility
Support resident and family councils
Ensure confidentiality of all information
Collaborate with licensing agencies
Recruit and maintain a volunteer complement
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Local Level
How many volunteers and staff serve in this
county?
How valuable is a new ombudsman to the State
Long-Term Care Ombudsman program?
What additional training opportunities are
available to ombudsmen?
Who will be the local coordinator/supervisor?
How often does the local ombudsman team
meet?
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Local Level
Job description
Time commitment (volunteers)
Facility assignment
Confidentiality
Paperwork / documentation
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Local Level Volunteers and Staff
Increase timeliness
Expand skills and expertise
Increase personalization of service
Create pro-active vs. reactive approach
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Scope and Limitations of Ombudsman
You will become a representative of the State LongTerm Care Ombudsman Office.
As a certified ombudsman, you will have access to
facilities and the consumers who live there.
Only consumers can deny you access.
You will not be a care provider.
You will not be a regulator/inspector.
You will not be an undercover agent.
You will not be the expert on capacity – that is a
medical/legal finding.
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Conflict of Interest
Professional / Employment
Family / Resident
Emotional / Trigger Issue
Financial Interest
Program Conflicts
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Confidentiality
Confidentiality Statement
Conduct all conversations with residents in
private
Safeguarding of all records, which include
volunteer reports
Avoid gossip
Re-direct questions
Respect the resident’s wishes to share or not
information relayed to the ombudsman
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Code of Ethics
Respect for human dignity
Self-determination and self-resolution
Respect
Safeguard
Maintain competence in relevant areas
Protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation
and abandonment
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Elements of the Program
Client-Directed
Legally-Based
Highly Visible
Access to facilities, residents, records
Impartial
Non-partisan
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Consumer = Resident
The resident directs all activities of the
ombudsman.
Ensure that you always knock before entering a
resident’s room.
It is important the resident directs the activities
performed during visits.
If the resident says “no,” no further action is
required by the ombudsman.
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Quality of Life
Quality of Life is defined differently for each
individual.
The goal is to strive for those individual
differences, and the challenge is how that is
done in a long-term care setting.
As ombudsmen, it is important we respect
each individual’s right to quality of life.
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Ombudsman Roles
Visible Presence
Enabler
Educator
Facilitator
Mediator
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Negotiator
Advocate
Broker
Catalyst
Complainant
Self-Advocacy
Ombudsmen have a responsibility to
empower individuals to self-advocate.
Since residents are living in these long-term
care setting (homes) 24/7, as ombudsman
we need to empower residents to also selfadvocate.
“Ten Steps to Being an Effective SelfAdvocate”
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What is Pennsylvania’s Empowered Expert
Residents (PEER)?
In 2002, a group of residents were interested
in enhancing their advocacy skills.
PEERs advocate for themselves and other
fellow residents in their homes.
The State Office together with PEERs
developed a 10-hour training curriculum for
residents living in long-term care settings.
Volunteer ombudsmen play a pivotal role in
the success of the PEER program.
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Where would you find ombudsmen?
Nursing Homes
Personal Care Homes
Assisted Living Homes
Domiciliary Care Homes
Older Adult Daily Living Centers / LIFE
Assisting consumers receiving Home and
Community-Based Services
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Nursing Homes
Department of Health (DOH) regulates and
inspects nursing homes in PA.
Types of Nursing Homes
A person entering a nursing home must be
deemed appropriate for that level of care.
Some residents may qualify for financial
assistance (medical assistance).
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Personal Care Homes (PCH)
Department of Public Welfare regulates and
inspects PCHs in PA.
PCHs are responsible for pre-admission
screening to deem whether the level of care is
appropriate. Residents requiring SSI
supplemental payments are screened by the
Area Agencies on Aging.
Majority of residents in PCHs are private pay.
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Assisted Living Residences (ALR)
Implemented in January 2011
ALRs are different from PCHs in three ways.
– Concept – ALRs allow residents to “age in place.”
– Construction – ALRs have private living units with kitchen
capacity, locked doors, and private bathrooms.
– Level of Care – ALR residents are able to continue to live
in ALR when they reach a nursing home level of care.
Department of Public Welfare regulates and
inspects ALRs in PA.
ALRs are only private pay.
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Domiciliary Care Homes (Dom Care)
Dom Care homes are small home-like
placements for consumers who –
– Need 24-hour supervision
– Need assistance with activities of daily living
– Do not require a nursing home
Department of Aging regulates Dom Care in
PA. AAAs handle application, review,
certification, and ongoing monitoring of quality
of care in Dom Care homes.
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Other Settings
Home and Community-Based Settings
Older Adult Daily Living Centers
Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE)
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Understanding Resident Rights
Resident Rights are outlined in regulations.
– Nursing Homes – PA Department of Health regulations (28
PA Code § 201.29) and Federal Nursing Home Reform Law
(42 C.F.R.)
– Personal Care Homes – PA Department of Public Welfare
regulations (55 PA Code § 2600.42)
The State Office provides posters that are visible
in all types of facilities, which include contact
information for the local Ombudsman, and also
“Know Your Rights” brochures.
Scenarios to consider...
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Abuse in Facilities
Act 79 provides for Older Adult Protective Services.
Each AAA has a Protective Services unit, which is
responsible for receiving reports of abuse.
Abuse is defined as abuse, neglect, financial
exploitation, and abandonment.
What is Imminent Risk? What to do if you witness –
–
–
–
No food in the facility
Batteries removed from smoke detectors
An incident of abuse
Statewide Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-490-8505.
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Resources – Advocacy Partners
Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA),
www.aging.state.pa.us
National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource
Center (NORC), www.ltcombudsman.org
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term
Care (“The Consumer Voice”),
www.theconsumervoice.org
National Association of State Long-Term Care
Ombudsman Programs (NASOP), www.nasop.org
National Association of Local Long-Term Care
Ombudsmen (NALLTCO), www.nalltco.org
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Next Steps
Schedule a facility visit with a certified
ombudsman
Attend Tier I (Basic) training
Identify a certified ombudsman to be a
mentor
Any questions?
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Thank You
Welcome to the Pennsylvania Ombudsman Team!
Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
555 Walnut Street, 5th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 783-8975
www.aging.state.pa.us
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