Sec. 17b-405. (Formerly Sec. 17a-410). Duties of regional ombudsmen. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 17b-405. (Formerly Sec. 17a-410). Duties of regional ombudsmen. The regional ombudsmen shall, in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the director:

      (1) Provide services to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents;

      (2) Ensure that residents in service areas have regular timely access to representatives of the program and timely responses to complaints and requests for assistance;

      (3) Identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents that relate to action, inaction or decisions that may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare or rights of the residents or by, or on behalf of, applicants in relation to issues concerning applications to long-term care facilities;

      (4) Represent the interests of residents and applicants, in relation to their applications to long-term care facilities, before government agencies and seek administrative, legal and other remedies to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of the residents;

      (5) (A) Review and, if necessary, comment on any existing and proposed laws, regulations and other government policies and actions that pertain to the rights and well-being of residents and applicants in relation to their applications to long-term care facilities, and (B) facilitate the ability of the public to comment on the laws, regulations, policies and actions;

      (6) Support the development of resident and family councils; and

      (7) Carry out other activities that the State Ombudsman determines to be appropriate.

      (P.A. 77-575, S. 6, 23; P.A. 83-587, S. 32, 96; P.A. 99-176, S. 6, 24.)

      History: P.A. 83-587 deleted reference to specific number of ombudsmen; Sec. 17-135f transferred to Sec. 17a-410 in 1991; Sec. 17a-410 transferred to Sec. 17b-405 in 1995; P.A. 99-176 deleted existing provisions and replaced with list of duties (1) to (7), effective July 1, 1999.

      See Sec. 17a-450 et seq. re protection of the elderly.