The North Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program’s mission is to protect residents’ rights and improve the quality of care and life for residents in long term care facilities by providing access and advocacy services that assist residents in protecting their health, safety, welfare, and rights. The program provides information to citizens about the long term care system as well as assistance accessing services. The long Term Care Ombudsman Program’s mandated responsibilities from the Older Americans Act are to: 

• Receive and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents in long term care facilities.

• Provide information to the general public on long term care issues.

• Promote community involvement with long term care residents and facilities.

•  Resolve issues of common concern.

• Assist long term care providers with staff training

• Train and provide technical assistance to community advisory committee volunteers appointed by County Commissioners.

• Collect and report data regarding the number of complaints handled and other program activities.