WAC 365-18-080   Duties -- Certified volunteer long-term care ombudsmen.  Trained and certified volunteer long-term care ombudsmen shall, in accordance with policies and procedures established by the state office, and under the supervision of the regional long-term care ombudsman, have the following duties:

     (1) Inform residents, their representatives and others about their rights, and offer and provide services to protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents;

     (2) Represent the interests of residents before government agencies and seek administrative, legal, and other remedies to protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents;

     (3) Visit residents in the assigned facility(s) on a regular basis, with provision made by facilities and ombudsmen to secure privacy for the purpose of the ombudsman carrying out his or her duties;

     (4) According to program policy, identify, investigate and resolve complaints that:

     (a) Relate to actions, inactions, or decisions, that may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or rights of residents;

     (b) Are made by:

     (i) A resident, a resident's relatives, friends, or associates;

     (ii) Providers, or representatives of providers, of long-term care or health care services;

     (iii) Public agencies;

     (iv) Health and social service agencies; or

     (v) Guardians, representative payees, holders of powers of attorney, or other resident representatives;

     (5) Review, and if necessary, comment on any existing and proposed laws, regulations, and other governmental policies and actions, that pertain to the rights and well-being of residents; and facilitate the ability of the public to comment on the laws, regulations, policies, and actions;

     (6) Promote development of resident councils, family councils, and citizen advocacy groups; and

     (7) Carry out other activities that the state long-term care ombudsman determines to be appropriate.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.190 RCW and Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C., 3001 et seq., as amended). 00-09-060, § 365-18-080, filed 4/17/00, effective 5/18/00.]