Update as of July 1, 2024: Thanks to your advocacy, our 2024 budget request was partially successful! Our programs will receive an additional $5.25 million in 2024-2025 and up to an additional $1 million every year thereafter, depending on the availability of funding in CDPH’s State Citations Account. We would not have been able to accomplish this increase during a budget deficit without your help emphasizing the importance of our programs to the Legislature and the Governor.

Keep funding for local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in the 2024 Budget Act

The Legislature included $9.25 million in annual funding for local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program staff and volunteers in the 2024 Budget Act (AB-107). This funding would come from existing reserves controlled by CDPH that already fund our programs, so it would not impact California’s budget deficit. But Governor Newsom is proposing to transfer some of the reserves we’re seeking to the General Fund to backfill his cuts to other programs that do not necessarily benefit older adults or adults with disabilities.

We need your help ensuring the Governor keeps this funding for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in the Budget Act in line with the goals of California’s Master Plan on Aging and Elder Abuse Awareness Month (June).

Without this funding, long-term care residents relying on our Ombudsman programs to protect their health, safety, rights, and quality of life will suffer. These sources of funding for Ombudsman programs have not increased for 10 years. Yet there is already a critical lack of access to Long-Term Care Ombudsman services across the State. This is especially troubling considering that Ombudsman investigate reports of elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities and instances of abuse and neglect increased during the pandemic when there was a lack of Ombudsman presence in facilities.

Download the flyer

Here’s how you can help:

1. Call the Governor’s Office at (916) 445-2841
2. Tell them: “My name is <<NAME>>, and I’m calling from <<ORGANIZATION>> to urge the Governor to keep the full request for $9.25 million for local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in the 2024 Budget Act”
3. Copy and paste the email template below and email it to the Governor at https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
4. Tell your colleagues and/or supporters to do the same!

Copy and paste this script for emails:

Hello,

I am humbly requesting Governor Newsom’s strong support for the full $9.25 million in funding for local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs included in the 2024 Budget Act.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman not only address residents’ issues related to health, safety, and quality of life, but investigate cases of elder and dependent adult abuse reported in long-term care facilities in California. This funding would support up to 100 new staff and 900 new volunteer LTC Ombudsman statewide to ensure those programs meet their basic state and federal mandates. It will also ensure more equitable access to LTC Ombudsman services across the state and future-proof those programs for a rapidly growing aging population.

Please join us in supporting the over 300,000 aging adults and adults with disabilities living in long-term care in California in the spirit of Elder Abuse Awareness Month (June) and the Master Plan on Aging by ensuring the full $9.25 million for LTC Ombudsman Programs remains in the 2024 Budget Act.

Thank you for your consideration. We hope Governor Newsom will support this critical funding to protect some of California’s most vulnerable adults.

Respectfully,

Your name

Your organization, if applicable

Your contact information