Ombudsmen are advocates for the elderly who investigate complaints and respond to requests for assistance from older individuals living in long-term care facilities as well as from those living in the community in residential care or assisted living facilities. Ombudsmen provide services to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of the elderly.

Ombudsmen are dedicated to enhancing the lives of long term care recipients.  They support Assisted Living Facility residents' rights and Nursing Home residents' rights year-round, 24/7.   

Ombudsmen:
- Advocate for residents' rights and quality care
- Educate consumers and providers
- Resolve residents' complaints
- Provide information to the public

Ombudsman services are free of charge.  

Click here to learn more about the history of the Ombudsman program.

Cathy Hart, Idaho State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, can be contacted at ICOA, (208) 334-3833, or by email at cathy.hart@aging.idaho.gov.

Additional information about the Ombudsman program can be found at the National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center website.

Information to help you choose an assisted living facility for potential residents, and to help people already living in an assisted living facility maintain maximum choice and autonomy, are available in two booklets from the Long Term Care Community Coalition and the Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled at www.assisted-living411.org.

The Bureau of Facility Standards (within the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare) is responsible for licensing and monitoring all Long Term Care, Skilled Nursing, and Residential and Assisted Living facilities in Idaho. Click here for survey results for Nursing Homes, and here for Assisted Living Facilities. 

Learn the differences between Medicare and Medicaid, and how they help with medical costs, including nursing home and assisted living facility cost. Click here for additional information.

Area Agency Ombudsmen

Area I  (208) 667-3179 1-800-786-5536	North Idaho Aging & Adult Services 2120 Lakewood Dr, Suite B Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Area II  (208) 743-5580 x 213 1-800-877-3206	North Central Idaho A Community Action Partnership 124 New 6th St Lewiston, ID 83501
Area III  (208) 322-7033 x 239 or x 259 1-800-859-0324	Southwestern Idaho Sage Community Resources 125 E. 50th St Garden City, ID 83714
Area IV  (208) 736-2122 x 316 1-800-574-8656	South Central Idaho College of Southern Idaho 315 Falls Ave, PO Box 1238 Twin Falls, ID 83303-1238
Area V  (208) 233-4032 1-800-526-8129	Southeast Idaho Southeast Idaho Council of Governments 214 E. Center Pocatello, ID 83205
Area VI  (208) 522-5391 1-800-632-4813	Eastern Idaho Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership 357 Constitution Way Idaho Falls, ID 83405