Ombudsman
Reporting of Abuse and Neglect in Long Term Care Facilities
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Resident's Rights Brochure
Printable PDF: Single or Duplex
(For duplex, go to printer properties, make selections, i.e. 2-sided & flip pages) |
The purpose of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is to improve the quality of life and quality of care of all residents in long-term care facilities in South Carolina.
Residents in long-term care facilities are often physically and emotionally vulnerable, facing daily challenges in pursuing a meaningful quality of life. Whenever problems arise, residents or families can call upon an ombudsman for help. Ombudsmen receive complaints about long-term care services and then voice the residents’ concerns to nursing homes, residential care facilities, and other providers of long-term care.
Experience has shown that when residents and families understand the long-term care system, they are able to effectively act on their own behalf when problems occur. By educating residents, families, and facility staff, the Ombudsman Program fosters an understanding and knowledge of the long-term care system. To find out more, you can view the Resident Bill of Rights in English or Spanish (Declarición De Derechos Del Residente).
More information about the differences between abuse, neglect and exploitation, and who to call should you observe any of them, can be found in this two page "Spot Abuse" brochure (small pdf).
The Ombudsman Program is governed by the federal Older Americans Act and by the South Carolina Omnibus Adult Protection Act.
The Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging administers the statewide program through ten (10) regional offices located throughout the state. These programs are located within Area Agencies on Aging and funded with federal, state, and local dollars. There is no charge for services provided by the Ombudsman Program.
Ombudsman Annual Report
You can view the Full 2007 Annual Report in PDF format (medium 470K PDF file). The report contains information on
- Advocacy - what the office does for and on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina
- Explains what records the Ombudsman and consumers can access
- Statistics on the number and types of complaints handled in 2004
- Statistical information on the Long Term Care Facilities and their staffing levels
- Information on protection and the law
- The Bill of Rights for Residents of Long Term Care Facilities
Regional Offices Contact Information
Region 1: Appalachia
Greenville , SC
Phone: 864 -242-9733
Serving: Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville,
Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg
1-800-434-4036 (outside Greenville County)
Region 2: Upper Savannah
Greenwood , SC
Phone: 864-941-8070
Serving: Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Saluda
1-800-922-7729 (outside Greenwood County)
Region 3: Catawba - York, SC
Phone: 803-329-9670
Serving: Chester, Lancaster, York, and Union
1-800-662-8330 (outside York County)
Region 4: Central Midlands
Columbia , SC
Phone: 803-376-5389
Serving: Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, and Richland
1-866-394-4166 (outside Richland County)
Region 5: Lower Savannah
Aiken , SC
Phone: 803-649-7981
Serving: Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg
1-866-845-1550 (outside Aiken County)
Region 6: Santee-Lynches
Sumter , SC
Phone: 803-775-7381
Serving: Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter
1-800-948-1042 (outside Sumter County)
Region 7: Pee Dee
Hartsville , SC
Phone: 843-383-8632
Serving: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, and Marlboro
1-866-505-3331 (outside Darlington County)
Region 8: Waccamaw
Georgetown , SC
Phone: 843-546-4231
Serving: Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg
1-888-302-7550 (outside Georgetown County)
Region 9: Trident
Charleston , SC
Phone: 843-554-2280
Serving: Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester
1-800-864-6446 (outside Charleston County)
Region 10: Lowcountry
Yemassee , SC
Phone: 843-726-5536
Serving: Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper
1-877-846-8148 (outside Jasper County)
State Long Term Care Ombudsman’s Office
Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging
1301 Gervais St., Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-734-9900
1-800-868-9095 (outside Richland County)