The local long-term care ombudsman
Long Island is split across two separate Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) regions, and which one covers a facility depends on the county it sits in, not the county the family lives in.
- Suffolk County — Family Service League, Coordinator Elizabeth Maxim, 631-470-6755.
- Nassau County — Family and Children's Association, Coordinator Mary Clare Campion, 516-466-9718.
If you are not sure which region covers a specific community, the statewide Ombudsman hotline, 1-855-582-6769, can route you. The ombudsman is free, independent of any facility or agency, and acts only with the resident's (or their legal representative's) consent.
Reporting abuse or neglect on Long Island
New York's Adult Protective Services (APS) is run county-by-county through each county's Department of Social Services, not a single statewide hotline.
- Nassau County APS — 516-227-8395 (Nassau County Department of Social Services, Office of Adult Services).
- Suffolk County APS — 631-854-3232 (Suffolk County Department of Social Services).
If you are unsure which county line applies, New York's statewide adult services information line, 1-844-697-3505, can direct you. For a concern about care inside a licensed facility specifically, also contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and NYSDOH's Metropolitan Area Regional Office – Long Island at 631-851-3098. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Which one to call
The long-term care ombudsman and the state health regulator do different jobs, and using one does not preclude the other. The ombudsman advocates for a resident and can attend a care conference with you, but does not license, inspect or fine a facility. The state regulator investigates regulatory complaints and can take enforcement action, but is not an advocate for an individual resident's preferences the way an ombudsman is.
The consent rule
An ombudsman acts only with the consent of the resident or their legal representative. This surprises adult children. If a parent has capacity and does not want a complaint pursued, that decision stands, even where family disagrees with it.
