Governor Rick Scott Fires The Chief Advocate For Long-Term Care Residents

Michael Sallah and Carol Miller report in the Miami herald that Florida governor Rick Scott has fired Brian Lee, the chief advocate for long-term care residents.

Lee was the director of the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. An ombudsman program serves as a voice for residents at long term care facilities such as Adult Living Facilities (ALF's) and Nursing Homes. They are responsible for hearing and addressing resident complaints and advocating for improvements. In Florida all 300 ombudsman are volunteers. Florida is the only state without paid Ombudsmen.

Brian Lee angered the Long Term Care Industry frequently by requesting that all nursing homes make the names of owners and operators open to the public. He also advocated to have Nursing homes have enough food and water in reserve for all residents in case an emergency occurred, such as a hurricane.

In a letter immediately following Governor Scott's election victory the Florida Assisted Living Association asked that Lee be replaced with someone friendlier to the industry, and Scott has complied.

The role of the Chief Advocate for long-term care residents is not to be friendly with the facilities. As a Florida Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Attorney I am very concerned for the residents of these facilities. My biggest concern is that Governor Scott will appoint a puppet for the Industry lobbyists, and the role of the ombudsman program will diminish. Without the ombudsmen presence ALF and nursing home residents will be more likely to receive substandard care. Florida's frailest citizens are living in these homes, if they do not receive appropriate care there could be fatal results.