In hospitals and nursing homes, there are "patient representatives" (in some hospitals they are known as an advocate or an ombudsman).   

These employees have one sole function: To assist patients and their families with almost any type of complaint or problem regarding services.  An advocate should be knowledgeable enough to know certain things, like:

• WHO and WHERE to call to resolve a problem;

• WHAT can be done to resolve a problem (or know which office can answer the "what-question";

• HOW to cut through the red tape that often accompanies a service problem;

• And, WHEN they will have an answer to resolve your problem.

Advocates know their own Institution's policies, procedures and protocols for handling complaints.

In addition, an advocate or ombudsman often knows community resources which may be obscure to a patient and family.  They can assist to find answers, often in an overwhelming situation for those involved.  While they can't resolve "personality conflicts" with doctors or personnel, they can often smooth misunderstandings and problems.

But.....

I repeat this, because it is so important (and disgraceful) ! 

PATIENTS RECEIVING HOME CARE MUST HAVE A NATIONAL AND LOCAL ASSOCIATION OR ORGANIZATION TO REPRESENT PATIENT CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

When reviewing the existing association that serve as advocates for AGENCIES who provide home care (NOT to advocate for patients), their original goals actually sound like they were written to protect consumers.  In representing AGENCIES, their goals are: 

To serve as the unified voice for the home care and hospice community. 
To provide direct needed services to the members (i.e. the companies & agencies). 
To heighten the political visibility of home care and hospice interests. 
To influence the legislative, judicial, and regulatory processes with respect to issues of importance to hospice and home care. 
To sponsor research by gathering and disseminating home care and hospice data. 
To promote home care and hospice services as viable components of the health delivery system. 
To foster, develop, and promote high standards of patient care in home care and hospice services. 
To provide expert advice and assistance to members on management, legal, and operational issues. 
To disseminate information to the media and the general public that promotes knowledge and acceptance of home care and hospice services and support for family/informal caregivers. 
To expand private health insurance and other third-party sources for financing hospice and home care services and issues. 
To promote collaboration among national, state, and local organizations relating to home care and hospice services and issues. 
To initiate, sponsor, and promote educational reforms. 
To represent the interests of caregivers (nurses, home care aides, physicians, and therapists) who work in the home care field and to encourage individuals to choose a career in home care and hospice services. 
To protect the legal rights of hospice and home care beneficiaries, providers, and their employees. 
To promote the independence of and contributions made by potential home care clients, thereby shattering the myth that dependence is a necessary state for the aged and disabled in America. 

Patients and caregivers need these same things, and in fact, we need them MORE than the agencies.  

BUT.....

Therefore, I have initiated an Advocacy program for patients and families, run by patients and their families.

THE PROPOSED NAME FOR THIS ORGANIZATION IS:

ON-PAHC* (pronounced as On-pawk)

 "On Patient Advocacy in Home Care"

*Currently only for Ohio residents.  We are collecting data for other States.  Please submit your concerns so that we can see the full picture of the problems in home care in all States.  (Please read Privacy Statement first.)

 PLEASE SEE THE PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT FOR  "ON-PAHC"

Read Patient Rights and
Proposed Additional Patient Rights

Commonly Used Abbreviations in Long Term Care (and Home Care) - external link