THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOLUNTEER LONG-TERM-CARE OMBUDSMEN AND REGULATORY NURSING-HOME ACTIONS

This study assesses the relationship between the presence of Oregon vo lunteer long-term care ombudsmen and externally handled abuse complain ts, survey reports, and regulatory sanctions. In 1987, new amendments to the Older Americans Act mandated long-term care ombudsman access to nursing homes. No studies have systematically examined the relationsh ip between these empowered ombudsmen programs and regulatory abuse inv estigations, survey findings, or sanction activities. Contrary to pre- 1987 studies, this research found that the presence of ombudsmen was r elated to increased abuse reporting and abuse complaint substantiation s, more survey deficiencies, and higher sanction activity.