Need AL help? Ask your ombudsman

I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but because Dad will be living with us until he gets his liver transplant -- more on this later, much more -- we have decided to move Mom up to a facility closer to us, namely in Pennsylvania.  Two reasons for this:  Her cousins and other family members can help us out by visiting regularly and helping shuttle needed items to her, and it's much cheaper.

I want to talk more about how important it was that I finally admitted I needed help and reached out to extended family, and how helpful they have been.  But what I want to get out now is a vitally important thing I learned recently.  There are people out there who can help you choose a top-rate assisted living facility, and will help you and your family make sure the AL experience is as positive as possible.

That person is your federally-mandated, free ombudsman.  Need to find out if any complaints have been registered against your chosen facility?  Contact your local ombudsman (let's call them oms for short).  Want to know your loved one's rights in the AL system?  Ditto.  What if you have questions about what is covered under Medicare or Medicaid?  Yep, your oms.

A dear friend's mom is a retired ombudsman, and promptly called the current local oms to check out the facility we've chosen for Mom. The current oms promised to check up on Mom shortly after admittance, seeing as I still live some 180 miles away, and also to meet us when we first arrived, just for so.  How great is that?

Click here for the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center to find the oms nearest your facility.