Strengthening Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act

This bill aims to enhance the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program by refining training requirements for volunteers and ensuring dedicated leadership. It directs the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs to regularly update model standards, tailoring training to the individualized needs of each volunteer type and reducing unnecessary requirements for those not performing specialized activities. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs serve on a full-time basis . To further improve oversight and effectiveness, the bill requires the Assistant Secretary for Aging to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a comprehensive study. This study will assess the effectiveness and challenges of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs, specifically evaluating the recommended staff-to-bed ratio . The National Academies must then publicly issue a report with its findings and recommendations within one year of the contract.