Advocates and resolves problems for residents of nursing homes, assisted living homes and adult family homes. 
Maintains a complaint system which tracks complaints made against long-term care facilities and works with facility staff, local and state agencies to ensure that residents' complaints and concerns are listened to and responded to with appropriate action. 
Educates the public about residents' rights, resident care, medical assistance, services/conditions in long-term care facilities and what to look for in a long-term care facility. Oversees local ombudsmen offices across the state. Recruits and trains volunteers as certified long-term care ombudsman and is staffed by professional ombudsmen.

Advocacy offered by Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Advocates and resolves problems for residents of nursing homes, boarding homes, veteran's homes and adult family homes; helps residents understand their rights. Tracks complaints made against long-term care facilities.

Programs, usually offered by licensing authorities, that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of residents, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of group residences for adults with disabilities, assisted living facilities, and senior residential care homes.

Adult Residential Facility Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, incompetence of staff, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of patients, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical, improper or unprofessional conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of nursing facilities.

Nursing Facility Complaints

Programs, usually offered by licensing authorities, that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of residents, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of residential health care facilities that provide developmental services specifically for people with developmental disabilities.

Intermediate Care Facilities for Developmentally Disabled Complaints

Programs that investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing facilities, residential care homes, assisted living facilities and other supervised living facilities for older adults. The program also promotes policies and practices that improve the quality of life, health, safety, welfare and rights of residents; monitors laws, regulations and policies that affect those who live in long-term care facilities; provides the public with information about long-term care options; and promotes the development of consumer organizations concerned about long-term care. Under the federal Older Americans Act, every state is required to have an Ombudsman Program that addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long term care system.

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Advocacy offered by Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program