What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is a variety of services and supports an individual may require to meet their health and personal needs either for a short period of recovery following an illness or for an extended period of time, most often due to a chronic illness or disability, including memory loss. These services help an individual live as independently and safely as possible when they can no longer perform everyday activities on their own. Long-term care includes both medical and non-medical care, including assistance with bathing, dressing, and taking medications. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes. It is important to remember that a person may need long-term care at any age.

There are a variety of options in our area for care, both in an individual's home or in a long-term care facility.

For information about care options in a long-term care facility click here.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

ECC-AAA staff include staff members called "Ombudsmen".  "Ombudsman" is a Swedish word meaning citizen advocate.

ECC's ombudsmen are advocates for residents' rights. An ombudsman is responsible for investigating complaints made by, or on behalf of Nursing and Adult Care Home residents.  Ombudsmen can work with residents, family members, concerned citizens, facilities, as well as public and private agencies.  The goal of the Ombudsman Program is to enhance residents' quality of care and quality of life.

An Ombudsman can:

• Advocate for you when your legal rights have been violated or you are not receiving proper care or assistance.
• Investigate concerns that you or your family may have about residents' rights, services and benefits.
• Mediate disputes that you or your family may have with the facility.
• Provide information and assistance to you, your family members, and staff members in areas including: care planning, family and resident councils, resident transfer and discharge, long-term care placement.
• Promote elder-abuse awareness within the community.
• Monitor long-term care facilities to ensure that your rights are not being violated.
• Educate the public on long-term care issues and promote increased community involvement in long-term care facilities.

For more information about this program, contact an Ombudsman: