An ombudsman is an official who investigates complaints against businesses, public entities, or officials. They are appointed by the government and can be found across a wide variety of countries and organizations within those countries. There are different types of ombudsmen, including:
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Long-term care ombudsman: Advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, and assisted living facilities. They provide information about the quality of life and care of individuals living in long-term care facilities.
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Organizational ombuds: Provides confidential, informal, independent, and impartial assistance to individuals through dispute resolution and problem-solving.
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Parliamentary ombudsman: An official who provides a check on government activity in the interests of the citizen and oversees the investigation of complaints of improper government activity against the citizen.
Ombudsmen provide a channel for people to submit complaints against institutions without influence from the accused. They conduct fair and unbiased investigations at no cost to the complainant, providing resolutions or mediation services. Ombudsmen strive for fairness of process and healthy conflict resolution, and they do not act as advocates for any one position in a dispute.
