Abuse Prevention and Intervention in Long-Term Care
Source: Ombudsman Services
Published: 2020
Summary:
Lori Smetanka is the Executive Director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, the leading national nonprofit advocacy organization representing consumers receiving long-term care and services in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home and community based settings. As Executive Director, Lori oversees and contributes to the organization’s policy, advocacy, and program activities; leads the organization’s fundraising efforts; establishes strategic partnerships with organizations and federal agencies working on issues related to the provision of long-term services and supports; and establishes the strategic direction of the organization.
From 2004 – 2016 she served as the Director of the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, providing technical assistance, training, and support to the 53 State and more than 570 local long-term care ombudsman programs across the country. Prior to that role, Lori served as Law and Policy Specialist at the Consumer Voice, where she provided policy analysis, consultation, education, technical assistance, and training on long-term care issues. She received a B.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.
Joe Rodrigues has been the California State Long-Term Care Ombudsman since August 2002. As the independent State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, appointed by the Governor, Mr. Rodrigues oversees 35 local Ombudsman programs, with approximately 725 certified Ombudsman representatives who have a regular presence in approximately 1,230 skilled nursing facilities and 7,300 residential care facilities for the elderly. Ombudsman representatives work to resolve individual problems of residents and address systemic issues as well.
Prior to his appointment as State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Mr. Rodrigues was the Assistant Director of the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging where he was responsible for needs assessments, planning, and the delivery of Older Americans Act and Older Californians Act home and community-based services to keep older persons independent and in their own homes.
Before working for the County of Alameda, Rodrigues was the Executive Director of St. Peter’s Community Adult Day Care Center, the first licensed Adult Day Support Center in the county. Adult Day Programs help older persons and persons with disabilities with the activities of daily living while providing respite to family caregivers.
After serving two consecutive terms, Rodrigues is a Past President of the National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs where he led the Association’s work with Congress to reauthorize and modernize the Ombudsman provisions of the Older Americans Act. Rodrigues has been on the faculty of Holy Family College in Fremont, the California State University, Hayward, and for 11 years, the California State University, Sacramento where he taught several courses in the Gerontology Department. He is a member of the American Society on Aging and Sigma Phi Omega, the national academic honor and professional society in gerontology. Rodrigues chaired the Leadership Council of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and is the past Vice President of the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics.
Rodrigues earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. Patrick’s College in Mountain View, California and a Master of Divinity degree from their graduate school in Menlo Park, California. He also holds a Lifetime Instructor Credential from the California Community College system.
Link: Abuse Prevention and Intervention in Long-Term Care
Topics: Long-term Care, Overview/General, Prevention/Intervention
Access: Web-based
Intended Use: Self-directed Learning
Audience: Community, Social Services
Level: Basic, Intermediate
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