An ombudsman advocate can sit in alongside the resident and family during a facility care plan meeting, help the family understand what's being proposed, and advocate for the resident's stated preferences if there's a disagreement with the facility's plan.
How this actually works
Care plan meetings can feel one-sided when a facility's clinical staff is presenting a plan and a family is absorbing new information in real time, often about a parent's declining condition. Having an independent, trained advocate in the room changes that dynamic -- the ombudsman's job in that setting is specifically to make sure the resident's own preferences, not just the facility's recommendation, are represented and understood. This service is free and available to any resident of a licensed Tarrant County facility; request it in advance of a scheduled care conference through the Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County at 817-258-8000.
