Community Advisory Committee Members are volunteer advocates in each
county who are appointed by the county commissioners to serve on the
nursing and adult care home community advisory committees in each county (G.S.
131E-128 and 131D-31). Click
here for the names of Community Advisory Committee members for our
counties.
There are over 1,300 volunteers state-wide. These volunteers are
trained and assisted by the regional ombudsmen.
The primary purposes of the advisory committees are to maintain the
intent of the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Resident Bill of Rights
within nursing homes and adult care homes across North Carolina and to
promote community involvement and cooperation with such homes to ensure
quality of care for older adults.
The advisory committees are appointed by the Board of County
Commissioners in each county. The committees are responsible for advising
the county commissioners of the general conditions existing in the long
term care facilities within each county. The committees fulfill this
obligation through formal and informal visits to the facilities. In
addition, they submit quarterly and annual reports to the county
commissioners and the Regional Ombudsman. Community advisory committees
assist individuals in resolving grievances with facilities at the local
level. The extent of the assistance is limited to the success of mediation
or conciliation at the local level. The committees do not have the
regulatory power to force a remedy.
Although the community advisory committees have the authority to assist
in resolving a grievance with the consent of the resident or responsible
party, the bulk of the complaint investigations and resolution activity is
handled by the Regional Ombudsman.
If you are interested in becoming a Community Advisory Committee member
in your county, please contact your County Clerk of Court or your local
LTC Ombudsman, Alison Phlegar.