Enhancing the Performances of Local Long-Term-Care Ombudsman Program in Illinois

As part of a multi-state effort to improve the ability of local ombudsman programs to assist residents of long-term care facilities to resolve complaints and problems regarding quality of care, this project will both contribute to and benefit from the larger project. The comparison of issues confronting local Illinois ombudsmen programs with those confronted in similar programs across six geographically, demographically, and politically diverse states will be informative in identifying and sharing information regarding best practices, and program strengths and weaknesses. The project is committed to the application of findings through the development of a Blueprint for Improving the Local LTC Ombudsman Program, the Ombudsman Summit, and at least one key policy event in Illinois. The overall multi-state project is expected to contribute to dialogue at both the state and national levels concerning future programmatic and policy directions in time for deliberations concerning the 2005 re-authorization of the Older Americans Act and the Ombudsman Program within it.