In the early 1700's, a Swedish king appointed a citizen representative to investigate complaints made against his royal officers. This citizen was called an “ombudsman.”
The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program was established by the federal government in 1973. Massachusetts was among the first six pilot projects; it has since been a pioneer in the field.
The Ombudsman Program has 4 main goals.
• To receive, investigate and attempt to
resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing and rest homes.
• To protect resident’s rights.
• To provide information.
• To advocate for positive change in the
Long
Term Care system.
In Berkshire County, Elder Services Ombudsman Program oversees 17 nursing and rest homes. Our state certified volunteers visit the homes once a week. They check in and investigate concerns, work with the home to correct a problem, report to the Department of Public Health if there are abuse or neglect concerns (800-462-5531), and often participate at care plan meetings to support families who have concerns about their loved ones. We are the route of access for problem solving on behalf of the residents, their families and other concerned people in the community. While our goal is to help residents and family members solve their own problems, we are there to help if they aren’t successful.
Choosing a nursing home is an extremely important decision that often happens in the midst of the medical crisis of a loved one. Now is the time to prepare yourself if you are elderly or have an aging parent or spouse that may need nursing care in the future. The Department of Health (800-493-8333) tips, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (410-786-7164) copy of “What to look for in a Nursing Home”, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (800-882-2003), and finally, the Nursing Home Database (have the zip code ready) will give you preliminary information, but visiting the home is the most important thing you can do.
The Ombudsman Programs all over the country have long voiced concern over poor staffing in our nursing homes. If you have concerns about short staffing, we encourage you to participate in the political process to increase state funding which will make it possible for nursing homes in turn, to increase the minimum staffing requirements (617-558-0202). Contact your legislators.
For information on how to become an Ombudsman, please call 499-0524,
ext.726.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY NURSING HOMES
CRANEVILLE PLACE OF DALTON
265 Main Street, Dalton, MA. 01226
684-3212 Number of Beds: 89
*FAIRVIEW COMMONS
Christian Hill Road, Great Barrington, Ma. 01230
528-4560 Number of Beds: 180
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)
A division of Berkshire Health Systems.
.
GREAT BARRINGTON REHABILITATION AND NURSING CENTER
148 Maple Avenue, Great Barrington, Ma. 01230
528-3198 Number of Beds: 87
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO), 800-994-6610.
A division of Kindred Health Care
*HILLCREST COMMONS
169 Valentine Road, Pittsfield, Ma. 01201
445-2300 Number of Beds: 265
Accredited by Joint Commission of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO)
A division of Berkshire Health Systems.
KIMBALL FARMS NURSING CARE CENTER
40 Sunset Ave., Lenox, Ma. 01240
637-5011 Number of Beds: 74
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)
A division of Berkshire Health Systems.
LAUREL LAKE CENTER FOR HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
620 Laurel Street, Lee, Ma. 01238
243-2010 Number of Beds: 88
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)
A division of Commonwealth
Communities.
MOUNT GREYLOCK EXTENDED CARE FACILITY
1000 North Street, Pittsfield, Ma. 01201
499-7186 Number of Beds: 100
Accredited by Joint Commission on Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO)
A division of Berkshire Health Systems.
NEW BOSTON
NURSING HOME
P.O. Box 216, Sandisfield, Ma. 01255
258-4731 Number of Beds: 55
www.applehealthcare.com
*NORTH ADAMS COMMONS
175 Franklin Street, North Adams, Ma. 01247
664-4041 Number of Beds: 120
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)
A division of Berkshire Health Systems.
PROVIDENCE CARE CENTER OF LENOX
320 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, Ma. 01240
637-2660 Number of Beds: 69
www.mercycares.com
SPRINGSIDE OF PITTSFIELD
255 Lebanon Avenue, Pittsfield, Ma. 01201
499-2334 Number of Beds: 112
www.guardianfoundation.org
SWEET BROOK NURSING HOME
1561 Cold Spring Road, Williamstown, Ma. 01267
458-8127 Number of Beds: 184
Accredited by Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)
A division of Northern Berkshire Health Systems.
TIMBERLYN HEIGHTS
320 Maple Avenue, Great Barrington, Ma. 01230
528-2111 Number of Beds: 78
A division of Kindred Health Care
*WILLIAMSTOWN
COMMONS
25 Adams Road, Williamstown, Ma. 01247
458-2111 Number of Beds: 180
Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)
A division of Berkshire Health Systems.
*Willowood of Pittsfield is now Hillcrest Commons.
*Willowood of North Adams is now North Adams Commons.
*Willowood of Great Barrington is now Fairview Commons.
*Willowood of Williamstown is now Williamstown Commons.
BERKSHIRE PLACE
89 South Street, Pittsfield, MA. 01201
445-4056 Number of Beds: 42
*Women only
CURTIS MANOR
83 Curtis Avenue, Dalton, MA. 01226
684-0218 Number of Beds: 23