The Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long-Term Care (BOALTC) Ombudsman Program advocates specifically for residents of licensed long-term-care facilities and for Family Care/IRIS participants, acting only with the resident's consent -- a distinct role from the ADRC's broader information-and-assistance function. Statewide phone: 1-800-815-0015.
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The ADRC is where you'd typically start a search or enroll in a program; the Ombudsman gets involved specifically when there's a concern about a resident's care, rights, or treatment within a facility they already live in, and acts as the resident's advocate rather than the facility's or even necessarily the family's. Because the ombudsman only acts with the resident's own consent (or their legal representative's), a resident with capacity can decline to have a complaint pursued even if their family strongly disagrees -- an important nuance for families to understand going in. In Milwaukee County, ombudsman assignment happens by zip code rather than one countywide contact, but the statewide number above will route your call correctly regardless of which Milwaukee-area zip code you're calling from.
Related questions
- What is an ADRC and what does it do for Milwaukee-area families?
- How do I reach the ADRC of Milwaukee County?
- How do I report suspected elder abuse or neglect in the Milwaukee area?
- What's the difference between reporting to Adult Protective Services and filing a complaint with the state about a facility?
