Resources

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Many are unfamiliar with long-term care ombudsmen. In a nutshell, they are volunteers who advocate for residents of care facilities. They work to ensure residents are well cared for and their dignity and rights are respected. Unfortunately, their visits are infrequent. By Florida law, ombudsmen are only required to visit assisted living facilities and adult care homes once per quarter and nursing homes once per month. Some may visit more if they choose.

When an ombudsman finds improper care, they can open cases that are tracked by ACHA, the Agency for Healthcare Administration. Every facility has an assigned ombudsman. If the facility cannot provide their phone number, contact your district or region (see below). 

It's a mixed bag out there. There are beautiful facilities, while others leave a lot to be desired. Money plays a factor, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the heart of the staff. Here you'll find a flyer on things to consider, as well as links to state databases on ratings and inspection reports for Florida care facilities, doctors, and hospice services. 

The Florida Long-term Care Ombudsman Program is broken into regions. If you need assistance with rectifying inadequate care provided by an assisted living facility, nursing home, or adult care home, contact the facility's ombudsman or the region in which your loved one resides.

This list provides contact information for specialized elder services and hotlines.

A repository of Florida statutes and Bill of Rights for residents of Assisted Living Facilities (ALF). 

A repository of Florida statutes and Bill of Rights for residents of Nursing Homes, as well as advocacy handouts specific to nursing home concerns.