North Georgia Programs and Services Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

North Georgia Programs and Services Long-Term Care Ombudsman We complete routine monitoring of long-term care facilities and complaint investigation with the goal of complaint resolution.

North Georgia Programs and Services or NorthGAPS is a nonprofit organization in the state of Georgia providing Long-Term Care Ombudsman services in the north Georgia region. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Representatives are advocates for people living in long-term care (nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities, personal care homes, community living arrangements). Additionally, we provide information and assistance to the general public, other agency staff, along with residents, potential residents and their support systems. We also complete training for facility staff and community education. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Representatives participate in large scale legislative advocacy as well with the goals of improving the quality of life and care for current and future long-term care residents.

Residents' Rights Month is being recognized in Dawsonville!We're thrilled to share that Mayor Walden has officially proc...
10/19/2026

Residents' Rights Month is being recognized in Dawsonville!

We're thrilled to share that Mayor Walden has officially proclaimed October 2026 as Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month in the City of Dawsonville!

Our ombudsman, Trisha Brown, met with the Mayor this morning to accept the proclamation, which recognizes the importance of dignity, self-determination, and protecting the rights of people living in long-term care.

This recognition is a meaningful reminder that residents' voices matter - not just during October, but every day of the year.

Every resident deserves to be heard, respected, included in decisions about their care, and supported in living life on their own terms.

Thank you to Mayor Walden and the City of Dawsonville for helping shine a light on residents' rights and the importance of advocacy in our communities!

What's up in Dawsonville

Why do we knock?Not just because it's a rule.Because behind that door is someone's home.For those who work in long-term ...
10/15/2026

Why do we knock?

Not just because it's a rule.
Because behind that door is someone's home.

For those who work in long-term care, it's easy to become accustomed to walking through hallways and entering rooms throughout the day. But for the person living there, that doorway marks the boundary between their personal space and the rest of the world.

A knock says, “I recognize that this is your space.”

Waiting for a response says, “I respect your right to privacy.”

Something as ordinary as entering a room can become a reminder of how much control a person has—or doesn't have—over their own space. Asking permission before entering says, “You still have a say in what happens in your home.”

During Residents' Rights Month, we're reminded that dignity isn't always found in grand gestures. Sometimes, it's found in the smallest moments.

Our October newsletter is out now!If you'd like to receive updates and information on resident rights and other long-ter...
10/13/2026

Our October newsletter is out now!

If you'd like to receive updates and information on resident rights and other long-term care-related issues, please subscribe now: http://eepurl.com/RZZbQvWVnC

10/13/2026

Individuals receiving long-term services and supports retain their voting rights, no matter where they live or what type of care they receive. Visit the Consumer Voice website for a resident voter guide, a fact sheet for Ombudsman programs, and more. https://theconsumervoice.org/voting-rights/

Whose voice is missing from the table?A care plan is being discussed. A daily routine is being changed. A decision is be...
10/13/2026

Whose voice is missing from the table?

A care plan is being discussed. A daily routine is being changed. A decision is being made about where someone will live, how they will receive care, or what their day will look like. There may be family members, caregivers, administrators, and healthcare professionals involved. Each brings valuable knowledge, experience, and concern.

But there's one voice that should never be overlooked.

The person whose life is being discussed.

Residents of long-term care aren't simply recipients of decisions made by others. They are individuals with their own wishes, preferences, experiences, and rights. Their opinions matter. Their choices matter. And whenever decisions are being made about their lives, their voices deserve to be heard and respected.

This year's Residents' Rights Month theme, “Join Us at the Table,” reminds us that meaningful participation is about more than being present. It's about being listened to, being included, and having a genuine say in the decisions that affect your life.

Because having a seat at the table means little if your voice isn't part of the conversation. Their need for assistance should never outweigh their right to be heard.

10/12/2026

Residents have the right to self-determination and to use their voice to make their own choices. October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated by National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities and those receiving care in their home or community. It is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the dignity and rights of every individual receiving long-term services and supports. Learn more: https://theconsumervoice.org/2026-residents-rights-month/.

10/08/2026

Your voice matters! Join the Northwest Georgia Area Agency on Aging for an upcoming public hearing and help shape services for older adults in our community.

See the attached flyer for dates, locations, and ways to share your input.

October is Residents' Rights Month. The theme this year is, "Join Us at the Table."It's about more than what's on the me...
10/08/2026

October is Residents' Rights Month. The theme this year is, "Join Us at the Table."

It's about more than what's on the menu. It's about having a place, having a say, and being recognized as an individual whose preferences, experiences, and choices matter.

Because residents deserve more than a seat at the table.
They deserve a voice in what happens around it.

Throughout October, join us in celebrating the rights, dignity, and individuality of people living in long-term care communities.

💙 Elevating the voices of our elders.

A person does not stop being themselves when they enter long-term care. They do not leave their identity at the door.The...
10/01/2026

A person does not stop being themselves when they enter long-term care. They do not leave their identity at the door.
They are still the person who has spent a lifetime making decisions. The person with routines and preferences, relationships and memories, beliefs and opinions. The person who knows how they like their coffee, when they want to go to bed, who they want to visit, what makes them comfortable, and what does not.

They may need assistance. They may need care.

But they are still the author of their own life.

Residents’ rights protect something profoundly human: the ability to continue making choices, to be treated with dignity, to have privacy, to speak up, to participate in decisions, and to be heard.

This October, during Residents’ Rights Month, we’ll be talking about what those rights look like - not just on paper, but in the ordinary moments where dignity and autonomy are either honored or overlooked.

Because a resident should never simply have a seat at someone else’s table.

It is their life. Their home. Their table. Their voice.

And their voice matters.

Address

Atlanta, GA

Telephone

+14706911301

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when North Georgia Programs and Services Long-Term Care Ombudsman posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to North Georgia Programs and Services Long-Term Care Ombudsman:

Shortcuts

Share