RI State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Brain health is an important part of overall well-being at every age.

During Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, we recognize the millions of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

For residents in long-term care settings, person-centered care, dignity, respect, and meaningful connections can make a significant difference in quality of life. The RI State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents' rights and works to ensure every resident is treated with compassion and respect.

Join us this month in raising awareness, supporting caregivers, and helping create communities where every individual is valued.

💜 Learn. Advocate. Support.

Know Your Rights: Nursing home residents have the right to personal privacy, dignity, and freedom from abuse. Facilities must protect residents from unauthorized photography or video recordings, which are violations of federal and state law.

Staff are required to report suspected abuse immediately and may not use personal cell phones to capture or share images of residents.

To learn more, see LTCCC’s webinar on the hidden dangers of social media in nursing homes.

Webinar: https://nursinghome411.org/webinar-social-media-abuse/

Thank you for all you do, Lori! 💙

The Rhode Island Coalition for Elder Justice is proud to spotlight Lori Light, RI State Long Term Care Ombudsman, as part of our World Elder Abuse Awareness Month campaign.

Through advocacy, amplifying resident voices, and addressing concerns in long-term care settings, Lori helps ensure older adults receive safe, respectful, and person-centered care. Her work plays an important role in protecting the rights, dignity, and well-being of older adults across Rhode Island.

Thank you, Lori, for your dedication to elder justice and advocacy.

📢 Happening Today! Join our Care Partner Zoom Meeting for connection, guidance, and real-time support.

Your voice matters. Your concerns are valid. And you don’t have to face them alone.

🔗 Join here at 7 pm: bit.ly/riltcopzoomreg

🌈 Happy Pride from the Rhode Island Long Term Care Ombudsman Office!

This Pride Month, we celebrate the strength, courage, and dignity of LGBTQIA+ older adults, residents, families, and communities across Rhode Island. Everyone deserves to live with respect, safety, inclusion, and the freedom to be their authentic self, especially in long-term care settings.

We stand with residents and advocates in promoting equality, compassion, and person-centered care for all.

As Rhode Island comes together for Pride celebrations throughout the state, including Rhode Island Pride events in Providence, we honor the voices and stories of LGBTQIA+ elders who helped pave the way for future generations.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month 💜

Every older adult deserves dignity, respect, and safe care.

The RI State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice, and licensed home care settings - helping protect residents’ rights and quality of life. If you see something concerning, speak up.

📞 (401) 785-3340

📊 New research is raising concerns about how nursing home staff turnover is being measured.

A recent study found that current federal reporting methods may be missing nearly half of all staff turnover by excluding many employees who work limited hours. As nursing homes increasingly rely on short-term and temporary workers, these gaps can make it harder for families to get an accurate picture of staffing stability and quality of care.

Consistent staffing plays a critical role in resident well-being, helping to build trust, improve communication, and ensure continuity of care. Before choosing a long-term care facility, families may want to ask about staff retention rates, staff longevity, and the use of temporary agency workers.

Click the link to read the full article and learn why accurate staffing data matters for residents and their families: https://bit.ly/43d6WQs

Invisible staffing churn in nursing homes: CMS turnover metrics miss a growing short-term workforce Staffing instability is widely recognized as a threat to nursing home quality, and in 2022, CMS added annual staff turnover to the Nursing Home Five-Star R

📢 Join our Care Partner Zoom Meeting on June 9th from 7-8 pm for connection, guidance, and real-time support. A space where your voice matters, your concerns are valid, and you don’t have to face them alone.

🔗 RSVP here: bit.ly/riltcopzoomreg

Being heard, understood, and able to connect with others is a right all residents deserve.

The RI State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps advocate for residents when communication barriers create frustration, isolation, or unmet needs.

If there is a resident in your life who could use assistance being heard, reach out to our team – we’re here to advocate on their behalf.

A group of U.S. Senators recently outlined a plan to improve the affordability, access, and quality of long-term care services. Key priorities include strengthening nursing home staffing standards, increasing transparency in how care funding is spent, improving oversight and accountability, and addressing workforce shortages through better recruitment and retention efforts.

These reforms matter because adequate staffing and strong oversight are directly linked to better health outcomes, improved quality of life, and safer care for residents. Every resident deserves dignified, person-centered care delivered by a well-supported workforce.

We look forward to continued efforts that prioritize the needs of long-term care residents and the caregivers who support them every day.