Ombudsman program characteristics related to nursing home abuse reporting.

The purpose of this research is to determine if there is an association between ombudsman report rates of abuse, gross neglect, and exploitation from 1997 through 2002 and ombudsmen's public and staff education, investigative process, program expenditures, and census demographics. Data were obtained from the National Ombudsman Reporting System. Ombudsman annual reports of nursing home abuse, neglect, and exploitation are representative of that state's individual program. These reports should not be construed to represent all abuse in nursing homes. Physical abuse and resident-to-resident abuse were the highest rates of abuse reported. Census demographics and ombudsman program characteristics were associated with rates of abuse.