Protecting the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents in long-term care facilities.
Quick Help
About Mississippi’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman
For residents in long-term care facilities, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman provides services that protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents through leadership, oversight, and monitoring. The Ombudsman Program is authorized by the Older Americans Act and the Ombudsman services are always confidential and free.
An Ombudsman (awm-budzman) is an individual who advocates for the rights of residents living in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities. An ombudsman also strives to be the voice for residents while encouraging self-advocacy by providing education about residents’ rights.
The Ombudsman can help with:
- Residents’ rights
- Environmental concerns
- Discharge and eviction
- Personal care concerns
- Quality of life issues
For residents in long-term care facilities, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman provides services that protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents through leadership, oversight, and monitoring.
Residents in long-term care facilities in Mississippi have the right to:
- Be treated with dignity and respect.
- Choose schedules and activities.
- Be fully informed of all personal information.
- Share a complaint with anyone without any repercussions.
- Decide who visits and who does not.
- Have information regarding personal financial affairs.
- Have private conversation with anyone they decide.
- Appeal a discharge or transfer.
- Check out TheConsumerVoice.org for more in depth information
RESOURCES
Contact Your Ombudsman:
Call the Mississippi statewide Long-Term Ombudsman Help Line: 1-888-844-0041.
Complaints and Appeals
If you would like to file a complaint with the Mississippi State Department of Health regarding a long-term care facility, please visit the Make a Health Facility Complaint page.
Attorney Generals Office : 601-359-3680
HOW WE CAN HELP
When a resident has been asked to leave a long-term care facility, federal law provides the right to appeal. For issues relating to the appeals process, please contact your local ombudsman.
During a proposed discharge, the Ombudsman program can answer questions, work to address your concerns, and provide support and assistance to appeal your facility initiated discharge.
Written Notice Required
If the facility initiates a discharge, they must give a written notice to you, your representative and the Ombudsman program. The notice must be given at least 30 days before the planned discharge date.
The notice must include:
- The reason for discharge.
- The date of the discharge.
- A statement of your right to appeal.
- The location to which you will be discharged.
If you want to stay in the nursing home talk to your Ombudsman as soon as possible. Your Ombudsman can you try and solve the issue that caused the discharge or help file an appeal on your behalf.
- For additional information relating to the hearing process, please visit the Mississippi Division of Medicaid website.
Finding Services
To find a long-term care facility near you please visit Medicare’s Care Compare Tool where you can find and compare Medicare-certified nursing homes based on a location, and compare the quality of care they provide and their staffing.
Medicaid
For information on Medicaid in Mississippi and how to apply, please visit the Mississippi Division of Medicaid.
Click here for more information on the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Whether it is Medicare, Medicaid, supplemental insurance or other coverage, SHIP volunteers are trained to answer questions, compare policies, organize paperwork and help with claims and filing appeals.
SHIP volunteers help older Mississippians and caregivers understand Medicare benefits; organize doctor and hospital bills; file Medicare appeals; review Medicare Supplemental Insurance; evaluate Medicare+ Choice or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) options; understand Medicaid eligibility, and explore long-term care options.
Anyone can get free help through SHIP – their help is available regardless of income. Plus, their help is free, un-biased, and confidential.
Legal Assistance and Advocacy Services
Legal assistance and advocacy services are available to older adults to help them protect their rights, secure benefits, and promote a higher quality of life. Services include:
- Referrals for legal assistance for older persons who need legal advice, a consultation and/or representation.
- Elder abuse prevention activities and public information programs that focus on issues to help prevent abuse, fraud, and exploitation.
Latest
- MDHS Spotlights National Family Caregivers Month: Encouraging Mississippians to “Plug into Care”
- SHIP Provides Free and Unbiased Medicare Guidance
- Giving a Voice to the Vulnerable
- MDHS Highlights Long Term Care Residents’ Rights Month, October 2025
- Governor Reeves Declares May as “Older Americans Month” in Mississippi