The bill amends New Jersey's laws regarding the Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, expanding its responsibilities to encompass all long-term care residents, rather than just the elderly. It replaces terms like "elderly" and "institutionalized elderly" with "long-term care residents" and removes references to "patients" and "clients." The bill emphasizes the protection of civil and human rights for individuals in long-term care facilities, addressing their unique challenges, and tasks the ombudsman with receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints to uphold residents' rights. Additionally, it mandates the establishment of rules, appointment of staff, and development of training programs focused on residents' rights and care quality.

The legislation also enhances the reporting and investigation processes for suspected abuse or exploitation of long-term care residents. It requires individuals who suspect a crime to report it to local law enforcement and the facility's health administrator, with specific timelines for reporting based on the severity of the abuse. The ombudsman is given the authority to conduct prompt investigations and share findings with relevant parties, while also promoting community involvement through volunteer programs. The bill eliminates the need for prior notice before inspections and shifts legislative oversight from specific committees to the Legislature as a whole, aiming to improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of the ombudsman in serving long-term care residents.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27G-1, 52:27G-2, 52:27G-4, 52:27G-5, 52:27G-6, 52:27G-7, 52:27G-7.1, 52:27G-7.2, 52:27G-7.3, 52:27G-8, 52:27G-9, 52:27G-10, 52:27G-11, 52:27G-13, 52:27G-14