South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
The South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is made up of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman located in the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging, and ten regional ombudsman programs located in the Area Agencies on Aging. Seven of the area agencies are public entities, housed within regional planning councils. The remaining three area agencies are private non-profit organizations. The State Long Term Care Ombudsman directs the program from within the Office on Aging. State office staff are responsible for the implementation, funding, training and evaluation of the statewide program.
The South Carolina Omnibus Adult Protection Act also mandates that long term care ombudsman serve as the mandated investigator for all abuse, neglect and exploitation complaints occurring in nursing homes, residential care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and facilities operated or contracted for operation by the State Department of Mental Health and the State Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.