This program is the
result of legislation passed by the North Carolina General
Assembly. In passing this legislation it was the intent
of the General Assembly that each community in the state
should take an active role in promoting the interests
and well being of all residents of nursing homes and
adult care homes. Adult Care Homes are Family Care Homes,
Homes for the Aged.
Each county in North Carolina that
has one or more nursing homes is now served by a Nursing
Home Community Advisory Committee (NHCAC) and each county
having one or more Adult Care Homes has an Adult Care
Home Community Advisory Committee (ACHCAC) to serve
all such homes in the county. In smaller counties, these
committees may be combined and are called Joint Community
Advisory Committees (JCAC).
What
is the purpose of this committee?
To
advocate for residents of long term care facilities
and work on the local level to resolve complaints.
To
visit facilities to ensure that the Resident's Bill
of Rights is being followed.
To
promote community education and awareness of the
needs of the institutionalized elderly.
A
Community Advisory Committee represents the pivotal
point within the Ombudsman Program. Volunteers serving
as Community Advisory Committee members are the
link between the facilities and the community. The
work of the committees will ultimately result in
the improved quality of life for residents of long
term care facilities. Community Advisory Committee
members will have the opportunity to encounter a
wide variety of people as they carry out committee
responsibilities.
Roles
and Responsibilities of
Community Advisory Committee Members
Community
Advisory Committee members are created by statute
to work to maintain the intent of the Bill of Rights,
to promote community involvement and cooperation
with long term care facilities and to ensure quality
care for persons in long term care facilities.
In general, the local Community
Advisory Committee is charged with the following
responsibilities:
To work
to maintain the intent of the Bill of Rights.
To serve
as the nucleus for increased community interaction
with facilities.
To promote
communication, education and awareness of issues
affecting institutionalized elderly.
To assist
persons who have grievances with a facility by guiding
them through the resolution process at the local
level whenever appropriate.
To
carry out its responsibilities, the committees participate
in the following activities:
Prepare
quarterly visit reports.
Attend
training sessions.
Hold
committee meetings.
Do friendly
visiting in facilities.
Mobilize
volunteers for facilities.
Negotiate
resolution of complaints with facility administrators.
Receive
and investigate complaints and document complaint
information.
Make
official quarterly/annual visits to facilities to
establish rapport..
Who
Serves on the Nursing Home and
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committees?
Local
citizens, appointed by the County Commissioners,
serve on the Community Advisory Committees as volunteers.
They are selected because of their interest in quality
long-term care.
To
Contact your Local CAC :
Alex Jernigan
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Area Agency on Aging
High Country Council of Governments
