Florida's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a statewide, volunteer-based organization focusing on improving the quality of life and care of long-term care facility residents. Residents' rights are the cornerstones of the program's mission. Volunteer ombudsmen are concerned citizens who become trained, certified and approved to carry out the activities of the ombudsman program.

The duites of an ombudsman include:

• Identifying, investigating and resolving complaints made by or on behalf of long-term care facility residents;
• Conducting annual administrative assessments of all state licensed long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family-care homes;
• Educating residents, family members, facility staff, community organizations and other interested groups and individuals about residents' rights and quality of life and care issues through workshops and events;
• Empowering long-term care residents to know their rights and proactively assisting Floridians in the process of choosing long-term care facilities for themselves and/or loved ones based on informed decisions made by utilizing all the resources offered by the state; and
• Monitoring, developing, commenting on, and implementing federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies that may affect residents of long-term care facilities