Protecting Rights and Empowering Residents
The Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman are advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to improve residents' care and quality of life.
Ombudsman can be volunteers or paid employees that are independent of any conflict of interest with a long-term care facility. Services are free and confidential.
World Elder Abuse Day
World Elder Abuse Day is June 15, 2022. Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported, partly because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. Research suggests that as few as 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities.
By doing all that we can to strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a nation that lives up to our promise of justice for all. Learn more about elder abuse and resources at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/aging-independence/elder-abuse-awareness-and-prevention and join us in celebrating World Elder Abuse is June 15, 2022.
The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence is sponsoring a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) event in collaboration with the Office of Consumer Protection and AARP on June 11, 2022. See event details at: https://bit.ly/HoCoShred
- Education to inform residents, families, facility staff and others on a variety of issues related to aging, long-term care, and resident's rights.
- Information and referral to empower individuals to resolve concerns and complaints on their own behalf.
- Consultation to make recommendations for protecting the rights of residents and improving their care and quality of life.
- Individual advocacy to facilitate the resolution of concerns and complaints and to protect the rights of residents.
- Systems advocacy to identify significant concerns and problematic trends and to advocate for systemic changes that will benefit current and future residents of long-term care facilities
Ombudsmen enrich the lives of Long-Term Care residents. Ombudsman volunteers receive training to help empower residents of long-term care to live with dignity, to ensure the quality of care they receive and utilize their skills to advocate for their rights.
Code of Maryland Regulations for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) is the regulatory agency for long term care. Click below to view the regulations
If you have a concern or complaint about a resident in a nursing home or assisted living in Howard County, contact the local Long Term Care Ombudsman at 410-313-6423 or email them at LTCOmbudsman@howardcountymd.gov.
If you suspect abuse in a long term care setting, contact Howard County Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services unit at 410-872-8823 or 1-800-91-PREVENT (1-800-917-7383).
You may also contact the LTC Ombudsman at 410-313-6423
Explore nursing home and assisted living options in Howard County.
To explore Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Centers in the region, visit the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare website