Summary

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services received a Formula Grant award of $144,415 from the Administration on Aging under the Special Programs for the Aging, Title VII, Chapter 2, Long Term Care Ombudsman Services for Older Individuals program (CFDA 93.042). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, funds comprehensive ombudsman services designed to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and board and care communities throughout North Dakota.

The funded ombudsman program delivers core advocacy and complaint resolution services that identify and investigate resident complaints, provide information to residents about long-term services and supports, ensure regular and timely access to ombudsman services, and represent resident interests before governmental agencies to secure administrative and legal remedies. Additionally, the program analyzes and recommends changes to laws and regulations affecting long-term care quality and consumer protections. As a statutory formula grant awarded on a non-competitive basis, the allocation reflects North Dakota's population and eligible aging population relative to other states, with the two-year performance period supporting sustained service delivery to vulnerable older adults in residential care settings.