As Older Americans Month comes to a close, we invite you to pause and ask yourself what healthy aging looks like. How do you want to spend your later years, and what does “successful aging” look like to you?
Health, after all, is about more than medical care. It also includes autonomy, dignity, meaningful relationships and the ability to make choices that reflect who we are.
For older adults living in nursing homes and assisted living communities, championing health means honoring personal preferences and supporting self-determination, even when daily life is shaped by complex care needs. Moving into a long-term care setting should never mean losing one’s voice or identity.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program plays an essential role in protecting that dignity. Ombudsmen advocate for residents and help ensure their rights, choices and preferences are respected. They stand alongside residents to support informed decision-making, autonomy, and quality of life.
Advocacy in long-term care must focus on the whole person. Meaningful activities, personal routines, cultural expression and social connection are not extras – they are essential to well-being. Residents deserve opportunities to build relationships, stay engaged, and remain connected to the broader community.
Let us commit to championing the health of older adults by listening to their voices, respecting their choices and supporting programs that protect their rights. When we champion autonomy and self‑determination, we help ensure that all older adults can continue to live with purpose, dignity and respect.
If you have questions about rights in long-term care facilities, please reach out to your local long-term care ombudsman at 800-421-7277, option 4, or email OMBforms@dhad.org
Julie Esack, vice president of Elder Rights, Direction Home Akron/Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities, Green
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio’s ombudsmen are vital for adults in long-term care | Letter
