OMBUDSMAN SERVICES OF SAN MATEO COUNTY INC

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION AND FACILITY MONITORING: STATE CERTIFIED OMBUDSMEN MONITOR FACILITIES FOR QUALITY OF CARE, QUALITY OF LIFE AND VIOLATION OF RESIDENTS' RIGHTS. IN 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES WERE INCLUDED IN ITS JURISDICTION: 16 NURSING HOMES,217 RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY, 32 INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES,23 ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS,21 ADULT RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED,9 SOCIAL REHAB FACILITIES, (CONTINUED)TOTAL OF 419 FACILITIES WITH 9,025 RESIDENTS. OMBUDSMEN MADE A TOTAL OF 4,643 VISITS TO THE FACILITIES AND INVESTIGATED AND CLOSED 687 CASES ENCOMPASSING 735 COMPLAINTS.

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING TO VOLUNTEERS TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN STATE CERTIFICATION. THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDES 36 HOURS OF CLASSROOM TRAINING FOLLOWED BY AN INTERNSHIP PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS DUE TO THE COVID VIRUS. DURING THE INTERNSHIP, THE STUDENT OMBUDSMEN ARE PROVIDED WITH HANDS-ON GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MONITOR FACILITIES; ACCEPT, INVESTIGATE, AND DOCUMENT THEIR FINDINGS. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE 2 HOURS OF ON-GOING TRAINING FOR ALL OMBUDSMEN EACH MONTH. DURING FY 2023-2024 WE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED 6 NEW OMBUDSMEN WHO ACTIVELY JOINED OUR TEAM IN THE FIELD, BRINGING THE NUMBER UP TO 29 VOLUNTEER FIELD OMBUDSMEN ACTIVE IN THE PROGRAM. DURING THE YEAR, 29 STATE-CERTIFIED OMBUDSMEN PROVIDED A (CONTINUED) TOTAL OF 3,737 VOLUNTEER HOURS OVER THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD, VALUED AT ABOUT $130,848. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED 12 TWO-HOUR TRAINING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO ALL OMBUDSMEN WHO MUST ATTEND 18 HOURS OF ONGOING TRAINING EACH YEAR TO MAINTAIN STATE CERTIFICATION.