The Ombudsman Agency serves approximately 5,000 nursing home and family core home residents and their families (as well as other interested consumers) in a seventeen county area around Lexington, Kentucky. Its primary objectives are to:

• Protect the rights of nursing homes residents;
• Identify, investigate and work to resolve residents' concerns;
• Empower residents to make informed choices;
• Monitor and work to enact laws protecting older Kentuckians;
• Be a regular friendly visitor to residents.

The mission of The Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, Inc. (NHOA) is to improve the quality of care for residents living in long-term care facilities. NHOA was founded over 11 years ago as a group of neighborhood volunteers who were concerned about the treatment of nursing home residents. They established a pattern of visitation to area nursing homes -- encouraging residents and reporting problems to state agencies as they were observed. The agency was incorporated as a nonprofit community service agency in 1981.

Printed information you can obtain from the Agency:

• Free information sheets on over 40 topics
• Free booklets:
• What Your Should Know About Placement in a Nursing Home
• Important Information for Nursing Home Residents, Families, and Friends
• The book, Nursing Homes- Getting Good Care There is also available ($11.95).

What's a Nursing Home Ombudsman?

An advocate and resource for individuals (and their families) who need the services of a long term care facility.

What will it cost?

You pay nothing. The Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, Inc. is a nonprofit agency. All services are paid for through gifts and FREE to those who need them.

I'm just thinking about moving to a Nursing Home. Can you help me?

You bet! Making the decision to move into a facility is a new experience for most folks. We can provide information that will help you know what questions to ask and how to evaluate the answers when talking to nursing homes about placement.

I know a nursing home resident who's having a problem. Can I call you?

Please do! While we attempt to regularly visit every nursing home resident in a 17-county area of the Bluegrass, we may not always see what friends or relatives of residents see. It's our job to help resolve residents' complaints and to represent them.

Can I call you anonymously?

Absolutely! While we may be able to help you better if we have more information, we are delighted to give you information, make a referral, or take a complaint from anyone who calls us. Every call gets action!

How do I reach you?

Call (606) 277-9215 or (606) 278-6072 (ask for the Ombudsmen)

Consumers are unprepared for the long-term care experience. The system is complex; urgency forces decisions with little time for research and reflection. Residents themselves am generally frail and dependent. When placement is achieved, consumers face an alien environment where getting good care can be a challenge. They are uninformed about their rights and standards for good care. Their only source for advocacy and unbiased, accurate, user-friendly information service is the Ombudsman program.