Services for Older People

The Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a statewide advocacy program for residents of long-term care facilities. The State Ombudsman office is located at The Legal Center and operates through a contract with the Aging and Adult Services Division of The Department of Human Services. There are 16 local programs that operate within or in conjunction with the Regional Area Agency on Aging.

The program is authorized by state and federal law to investigate complaints made by (and on behalf of) residents of long-term care facilities. During the fiscal year 2006, The Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman handled 9,811 complaints. Approximately 71% of the complaints were resolved or partially resolved to the satisfaction of the resident or complainant. Ombudsmen handle and resolve complaints at the lowest possible level, thus reducing the need for agency action or litigation.

2006 Ombudsman Annual Report

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Under the Older Americans Act (OAA), every State Unit on Aging must have the capacity to undertake certain functions with respect to legal assistance. The OAA requires the State agency to provide assurance that each State will assign personnel (one of whom shall be known as the Colorado Legal Assistance Developer - CLAD) to provide State leadership in developing legal assistance programs for older individuals throughout the State.

The Legal Assistance Developer is required to play numerous roles and to have both broad and specialized knowledge of laws and policies affecting older Americans. At various times, the CLAD may be called upon to act as administrator, legislator, negotiator, diplomat, legal scholar, public speaker, writer, teacher, data-gatherer, head-hunter, reporter and in-person client referral service. The CLAD must stay abreast of changes in state and federal legislation and regulations affecting the delivery of legal services to older persons, as well as in the many substantive areas of law affecting them.