Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Long Term Care topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Franklin County proclaims October 2025 as National Long Term Care Residents Rights Month
Summary
The Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing resident rights month, highlighted local ombudsman activity and volunteer support, and noted county long-term care statistics.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday proclaimed October 2025 as National Long Term Care Residents Rights Month and heard remarks from the county ombudsman and volunteers about advocacy work in local long-term care facilities.
Teresa Day, Franklin County ombudsman, told commissioners the program advocates for residents’ rights, health and safety and handles complaints and systemic issues in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and personal care homes. She said county ombudsmen and volunteers have spent roughly 680 hours on visits, resident council meetings and education and reported 43 advocacy cases so far this year.
Nut graf: The proclamation recognizes the federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 and local ombudsman services; county officials used the ceremony to underscore volunteer contributions and the county’s long-term care population.
Day and volunteers described examples of advocacy work. A former volunteer, Diane, recounted entering a facility as a patient and said the ombudsman program helped resolve disputes over residents’ access to family visits and transportation. Day cited a local facility closure (Michaux Manor) that required relocation assistance for affected residents and noted the ombudsman role in discharge and transfer issues.
The proclamation text read by the commissioners cited national statistics — about 1.2 million people in U.S. nursing homes and over 1 million in assisted-living facilities — and said locally more than 1,900 residents live in 29 long-term care facilities in Franklin County. The proclamation also referenced the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 as the law that guarantees resident rights.
The board voted to approve the proclamation.
Ending: Commissioners and staff invited volunteers, ombudsman and family members to pose for a photograph after the proclamation was approved.
