New York Must Invest in the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

AARP New York is urging Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature to better fund the State’s independent nursing home oversight program in the wake of over 15,000 nursing home COVID deaths so far during the pandemic.

Currently, residents in fewer than half of New York State’s facilities have regular access to an ombudsman. This situation has gotten significantly worse over the course of the pandemic. With the State ranked 39th in the nation in spending on nursing home oversight - spending less than a third per resident than California, for example - New York should increase funding for its Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) by $20 million.

Please join us in urging Governor Hochul and your state lawmakers to include $20M in the upcoming State Budget for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Form Label Field

Your Message

Subject

Dear Governor Hochul and state lawmakers,

Message Body

I urge Governor Hochul and my state legislators to increase funding for New York's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) by $20 million in the upcoming state budget. The pandemic has shined a light on many serious quality care issues in New York’s long-term care (LTC) facilities and the New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) can play a significant role in raising the level of care provided by long term care facilities in our state and assuring that every resident is treated with the dignity that they deserve. But it is currently woefully underfunded.

While the Governor has proposed studying ways to improve the LTCOP, we don't need more studies to tell us that it clearly needs additional funding to meet the needs of some of the frailest people in our state. What we need is more funding in the state budget. According to the State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), there are about 1,500 facilities in the state housing more than 160,000 residents who have a need for – and a right to – LTCOP services. However, LTCOP is allocated only $1.190 million in state resources to cover these facilities.

New York State has the 4th highest LTC resident population in the country (163,755 beds), however funding lags well behind other states with similar or higher LTC resident populations.

Therefore I urge Governor Hochul and my state legislators to increase LTCOP funding by making an additional investment of $20 million to add local professional ombudsmen and to help residents and family members understand and exercise their rights to good care in an environment that promotes and protects their dignity and quality of life.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

Your Information

Salutation *

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Address *

Address Line 2

Zip Code *

City *

State *

Phone *

Email Opt-In

Opt-in

I’d also like to stay informed via email about AARP programs, benefits, events and more. I can change my communication preferences at any time. To learn more about how we use personal information, please review our Privacy Policy.