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
Contact the Mississippi statewide Long-Term Ombudsman Help Line: 1.888.844.0041
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.
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 MSDH Make a Health Facility Complaint page.
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.
- 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 website.
