Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act

Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act, introduced in the Senate, would make targeted changes to the Older Americans Act to improve how the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program trains and uses volunteers, ensure the program director works full-time, and commission a comprehensive study on state ombudsman programs. The core idea is to tailor and potentially reduce unnecessary training for unpaid volunteers by recognizing different types of representatives and their roles, while also increasing program oversight and knowledge through a National Academies study of staff composition and effectiveness. The bill also directs a full-time commitment for the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs and seeks external expert analysis to inform policy improvements. In short, the bill aims to strengthen advocacy for long-term care residents by making training more appropriate and efficient, elevating program leadership, and generating authoritative guidance through a federally commissioned study.