RI State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

08/31/2026

❌ MYTH: Residents in long-term care facilities have to accept whatever care or services they are given.

✅ FACT: Residents have rights - including the right to be treated with dignity and respect, participate in decisions about their care, voice concerns, and receive information about their rights.

Knowing your rights is an important step toward advocating for yourself or a loved one. 💬

08/29/2026

Older adults have a lifetime of knowledge, stories, skills, and experiences to share. Whether it’s teaching a family recipe, sharing memories, or passing down life lessons, intergenerational connections benefit everyone. 💙

Take time to listen, learn, and connect with an older adult in your life.

08/27/2026

CNAs are often the first smile residents see in the morning and the last person to wish them goodnight. They provide hands-on care, comfort, encouragement, and compassion every single day.

Building positive relationships between residents, families, and staff creates a stronger, more caring community for everyone.

Today, let's recognize the dedicated CNAs who make a difference one resident at a time.

🩵 Thank you to the CNAs who provide compassion, patience, and commitment to those you care for.

08/25/2026

📣 HAPPENING TODAY!

Join us at 1:00 PM for a FREE Community Conversation focused on protecting older adults and recognizing the signs of elder abuse, scams, financial exploitation, neglect, and more.

📍 City View Manor
99 Goldsmith Ave, East Providence

We’re excited to welcome Lori Light as a speaker for this important conversation!

Free to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!

08/21/2026

Resident Councils give residents a voice in their community. They provide an opportunity to discuss concerns, suggest improvements, and work with facility leadership to enhance quality of life.

When residents speak together, positive change can happen.

If you're a resident, consider joining your facility's Resident Council. If you're a family member, encourage your loved one to participate. Strong resident voices help build stronger communities.

08/19/2026

⭐ Resident Spotlight: Raymond ⭐

Meet Raymond, a proud Navy veteran, retired NASA machinist, and an active leader in his community!

Raymond currently serves as Resident Council President and has brought residents together by starting the community’s very first Cribbage and Blackjack Club. Whether he’s representing his fellow residents, organizing a card game, or simply spending time with friends, Raymond continues to make a difference in his community.

Family is also an important part of Raymond’s story. He and his wife, who is also a resident, have shared an incredible 66 years of marriage. Together, they have one child and five grandchildren.

From serving our country in the U.S. Navy, to his career as a machinist with NASA, to serving as a voice for his fellow residents today, Raymond has certainly lived a life of service, leadership, and community.

⭐ Thank you, Raymond, for allowing us to shine the spotlight on you!

08/14/2026

Medicaid fraud doesn't just waste taxpayer dollars, it can put vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities at risk by diverting resources away from the care they need.

Be alert for warning signs such as:
• Billing for services that were never provided
• Charging for unnecessary services or equipment
• Falsifying records or diagnoses
• Identity theft involving Medicaid benefits

If something doesn't seem right, speak up. Reporting suspected Medicaid fraud helps protect residents, preserve valuable resources, and strengthen the integrity of our healthcare system.

08/11/2026

CMS has issued updated guidance reminding nursing homes of their responsibility to protect residents' voting rights and ensure every resident can vote free from interference, coercion, or undue influence.

The updated guidance reinforces that:
✔️ Residents have the right to choose who assists them with voting.
✔️ Mail-in ballots cannot be completed on a resident's behalf without their authorization.
✔️ Nursing homes are encouraged to work with state election officials and bipartisan election workers to assist residents, rather than relying solely on facility staff.

If you believe a resident's voting rights have been violated, concerns can be reported to your State Survey Agency or the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.

Learn more about these important protections by reading the full CMS guidance here:https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qssam-26-04-nh-original-release-2026-07-20.pdf

08/07/2026

🛼 Pure joy on wheels! 💙

There’s nothing better than seeing residents smiling, laughing, and making memories in the community. A big round of applause to the two nursing homes that recently brought their residents to a roller skating party! Events like these remind us that life doesn’t stop when someone moves into long term care it should continue to be filled with fun, friendships, and new experiences.

The Rhode Island State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program celebrates person-centered care and the dedicated staff who go the extra mile to create moments of happiness for residents. Thank you for making this day so special!

💙 Every resident deserves opportunities to live with dignity, purpose, and joy.

Residents from two Rhode Island nursing homes got to check off a box on their bucket lists Thursday night.