The San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Who We are, What We Do, and How to Volunteer to Become an Ombudsman
The mission of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to seek resolution of problems and advocate for the rights of residents of long-term care facilities with the goal of ensuring their dignity, quality of life, and quality of care.
Ombudsman services are free and confidential. The Ombudsman program is authorized by federal and state law. We receive and investigate complaints regarding the health, safety, welfare, and rights of older adults and people with disabilities living in long-term care facilities.
Felton’s LTC Ombudsman Program is funded by the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Adult Services. The program is designated by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, California Department of Aging.
John Edmiston Bio
John Edmiston was a Community Benefit leader at Kaiser Permanente for two decades, and, following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation on the Gulf Coast, he designed and managed the largest national volunteer program in Kaiser’s history, bringing nearly 600 employees on week-long service trips to help rebuild homes and community spaces in Louisiana and Mississippi from 2007 to 2014. Since his retirement in 2017, he has worked for several agencies focused on issues of aging and older adults. He is currently the Ombudsman Volunteer Program Specialist in the San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) and joins a team of highly skilled individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults in long-term care communities.
John has an M.A. in English and Communications from the University of Miami and is a certified ombudsman.
Victoria Cormack Bio
Victoria Cormack is thrilled to work with the San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman team advocating for the rights of residents in long-term care facilities. With over 20 years experience as a professional gerontologist, Victoria has managed volunteers at Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. (Rosener House and Meals on Wheels) and at the Minor Home Repair Program on the coast. She has experience as a community organizer, investigator, and journalist. Previously, Victoria worked in law and brings a wealth of experience to the agency with a love of working with those 60 and better, their families, and communities. Victoria received her Master’s in Gerontology and a minor in Journalism at San Francisco State University with an emphasis in Oral Histories and Resource Development.