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The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (NVLTCOP) was able to recognize our dedicated volunteers during this year's volunteer appreciation event. Currently the program has 26 volunteers. From April 2024-April 2025, our volunteers donated 2,225 hours of their time traveling to and meeting with residents in their assigned facilities. They provided 12,141 information and assistance consultations. They opened 186 cases with a total of 417 concerns. The program would not be the same without our volunteers. Thank you! |
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The NVLTCOP is fortunate enough to be able to have Laila Riaz re-join our team. Laila, who recently retired from Fairfax County Department of Family Services, has six years of previous experience as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Throughout Laila's 33-year career in Fairfax County, she worked with the Nutrition Program, Aging, Disability and Caregiver Resources (ADCR), Coordinated Services Planning (CSP), and was a case aide in Child Protective Services (CPS), Foster Care and Adoption. Her passion shines through working with this vulnerable population and we are thrilled to have her back in the program. Welcome Laila! |
Medicaid is the primary source of payment for long-term care in this country. Medicaid covers long-term services and supports (LTSS) for approximately 9.3 million older adults and people with disabilities, with roughly 700,000 of those individuals living in nursing homes. To provide coverage, Medicaid spends about $200 billion on all LTSS with $59 billion spent specifically on nursing home care. In addition to funding care in institutional settings, Medicaid pays for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) which allow people to receive services at home. Among people aged 65 and over, about 70% will need LTSS in their lifetime. To learn more about how Medicaid is imperative to providing care for many older adults, you can visit The National Consumer Voice.
NORC has recently published statistics for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2024. There are 53 State Ombudsman, 2,044 total staff, and 3,598 volunteers. Long-Term Care Ombudsmen have visited over 50,000 long-term care facilities. Not only are Ombudsmen investigating complaints, they are also attending resident and family council meetings, providing information and assistance consults, and providing training sessions for long-term care facility staff. The program worked to resolve 205,332 complaints initiated by residents, their families, and other concerned individuals. The most frequent nursing facility complaints handled by Ombudsmen representatives are discharge/eviction, response to requests for assistance, and physical abuse. The most frequent residential care community complaints are discharge/eviction, medications, and food service.
To report abuse, exploitation, or neglect of an adult who is 60 years or older or is 18 years and older and incapacitated, contact Adult Protective Services. This service is available 24/7. By law, your call will be kept confidential.
City of Alexandria: Call 703-746-5778
Arlington County: Call 703-228-1700
Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, & Falls Church: Call 703-324-7450, TTY: 711
Loudoun County: Call 703-771-5742
Elsewhere in Virginia: Call 888-832-3858 or file a report online.
• Advocates for improving the quality of life for persons receiving long-term care services
• Works to resolve complaints against long-term care providers through counseling, negotiation, and investigation
• Provides information about long-term care providers to help make an informed decision
• Educates the community about long-term care issues
• Visits residents of long-term care facilities on a weekly basis through our volunteer program
• Trains long-term care staff on long-term care related information
• Consults with providers
Location: 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708 Fairfax, VA 22035
Monday through Friday (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Call: 703-324-5861 TTY: 711
Fax: 703-653-1796
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