Question 1

Does the Ombudsman Program help residents in independent living or only licensed nursing homes and adult care homes?

Accepted Answer

The Ombudsman Program's statutory advocacy role covers residents of nursing homes, adult care homes, and family care homes -- the licensed long-term care settings regulated under NC Chapter 131D and federal nursing home law. Independent living communities, which are unlicensed housing arrangements without the same level of regulated personal care, generally fall outside the program's core advocacy scope.

Question 2

Who oversees the Ombudsman Program at the state level in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is run by the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services within NCDHHS, which oversees the statewide program and its 16 regional Offices of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman housed within regional Area Agencies on Aging, including the Central Pines Regional Council office serving most of the Triangle.

Question 3

What is Central Pines Regional Council and why does it show up when I search for Triangle senior services?

Accepted Answer

Central Pines Regional Council is the current name for what was formerly known as Triangle J Council of Governments -- the regional planning organization that operates both the Area Agency on Aging and the regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman office for Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Johnston, Lee, and Moore counties. Older references to 'Triangle J' or 'TJCOG' refer to this same organization under its previous name.

Question 4

If I report a concern to the Ombudsman, will the facility retaliate against my family member?

Accepted Answer

Retaliation against a resident for raising a concern is prohibited, and it is precisely one of the core rights the Ombudsman Program exists to protect -- residents have the right to voice grievances without fear of discrimination or reprisal. If a family is worried about retaliation, they can discuss this concern directly with the regional Ombudsman office, which is experienced in navigating these situations carefully and, per the program's consent rule, will only act with the resident's permission.

Question 5

Can a family member request an Ombudsman visit on behalf of a resident who has dementia and can't request one themselves?

Accepted Answer

Yes, families can contact the regional Ombudsman office to raise a concern on behalf of a resident who lacks capacity to request help directly, but the program's consent-based approach means the ombudsman will still work to understand and honor the resident's own wishes to the extent possible, and may involve a legal representative or guardian where one exists. Contact the appropriate regional office -- Central Pines (1-800-310-9777) for most of the Triangle, or Kerr-Tar (1-866-506-6223) for Franklin County -- to discuss the specific situation.

Community	Care type	Address	County
PruittHealth - Raleigh	Nursing Home	2420 Lake Wheeler Road Raleigh, OH 27603	Wake
Transitions LifeCare	Hospice	250 Hospice Circle Raleigh, OH 27607	Wake
Holly Springs Senior Living	Assisted Living	100 East Hickory Avenue Holly Springs, OH 27540	Wake
The Springs of Ballentine	Memory Care	40 Rawls Club Road Fuquay-Varina, OH 27526	Wake
Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Nursing Home	202 Smoke Tree Way Louisburg, OH 27549	Franklin
Siler City Care & Rehabilitation	Nursing Home	900 West Dolphin Street Siler City, OH 27344	Chatham

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