When it comes to nursing homes and long-term care facilities, advocates are saying there needs to be more oversight.
Recently it was reported that these types of facilities had not received as many visits from the state’s ombudsman program as they’re supposed to. Some facilities have not even had visits this year. The program was created to help keep the most vulnerable population safe in New York, but it isn’t working the way it should.
The program is designed to keep an eye on what’s happening in these homes and facilities. It also works to put the minds of loved ones at ease. Without support for the program, there is little to no oversight happening in these locations.
The program is currently struggling because it’s run by volunteers. The New York State Office for the Aging has shared that recruiting volunteers has been hard and they’re trying to work with lawmakers to find a solution. The program is hopeful to receive more funding from the state. With the funding they would be able to add 235 full time employees and allow weekly visits to happen at the nursing homes in New York State. For this to happen, the budget would need to be expanded to $19.5 million dollars next year.
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