2026 -- H 7059

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LC003479

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF

HEALTHY AGING FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER LONG-TERM CARE

OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The federal Older Americans Act (OAA) requires every state to have an

Ombudsman Program that addresses complaints, protects resident rights and advocates for

improvements in the long-term care system, and in 1995, Rhode Island passed a law to establish

the state long-term care ombudsman program; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman operates as

an independent body whose purpose is to assist elders and individuals with disabilities receiving

long-term care services; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is

administered by the RI Office of Healthy Aging through a contract with the Alliance for Better

Long-Term Care using a combination of federal and state funds; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates on

behalf of residents of the State’s 76 licensed nursing facilities with 8,405 beds, 65 assisted living

residences with 5,209 units, and residents of the Bristol Veterans’ Home and the Eleanor Slater

Hospital; and

     WHEREAS, Many residents of these facilities have chronic conditions, need assistance

with daily living tasks, and may feel isolated and often face unmet needs; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman's

responsibilities include identifying, investigating and resolving through mediation, negotiation,

and administrative action, complaints filed by residents or individuals acting on their behalf, as

well as representing resident interests before government agencies, reviewing and commenting as

appropriate on laws, regulations and policies relating to the rights and well-being or residents of

facilities, and providing information to residents and the public; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health surveys have found an increase in

serious deficiencies in nursing facility care over the last several years, and assisted living

residents have higher care needs than in the past; and

     WHEREAS, There has been a significant increase in the workload of the RI Office of the

Long-Term Care Ombudsman with the number of complaints received more than tripling going

from 597 in 2023, to 1,787 to date in 2025, with 30 percent of the 2025 complaints relating to

abuse, gross neglect and exploitation and 22 percent relating to care issues; and

     WHEREAS, Combined federal and state funding to operate the RI Office of the Long-

Term Care Ombudsman has not increased to reflect inflation or the increased workload leaving

vulnerable long-term care residents at risk for poorer quality of care or infringement of their

rights; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars

($100,000) to the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging for the Alliance for Better Long-Term

Care Ombudsman Program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be

from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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LC003479

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF

HEALTHY AGING FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER LONG-TERM CARE

OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode

Island Office Of Healthy Aging for the RI Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

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LC003479

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