Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

This bill (S 2982) expands the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to cover **all long-term care residents**, removing the previous age restriction that limited its focus to elderly individuals. It updates key definitions to clarify that the Ombudsman's role applies to any resident in facilities providing long-term care (including dementia care homes, retirement communities, and medical day care centers), regardless of age. The bill also broadens the scope of "facilities" covered and revises definitions of terms like "abuse," "exploitation," and "caregiver" to ensure consistent application. This change ensures the Ombudsman can address complaints and protect rights for all long-term care residents, not just those aged 60+. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health Committee.