Weld County stands with long-term care residents

Published on October 06, 2025

Department of Human Services staff with the board of commissioners

The Weld County Board of Commissioners proclaimed October as Long-Term Residents’ Rights Month, a time to highlight and celebrate the dignity and rights of individuals in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care settings. This year’s theme, Stand with Me, highlights the importance of residents to advocate for their rights, with the support of long-term care ombudsmen.

“In Weld County, we have three ombudsmen who work tirelessly to advocate and support residents addressing individual challenges,” said Tami Grant, Department of Human Services (DHS) Deputy Director. “That team was recently recognized for their visibility and presence in facilities, maintaining excellent composure when addressing challenging situations, and consistently maintaining high professional standards.”

Weld County’s long-term care ombudsmen serve as vital advocates for residents in eight nursing homes and 24 assisted living facilities throughout Weld County. In the most recent program year, which concluded on Sept. 30, 2025, the team investigated over 500 complaints. These investigations addressed a wide range of concerns including quality of care; overall dignity and rights; dietary issues; improper evictions or inadequate discharges; and financial and billing concerns, ensuring that individuals in long-term care settings have a voice and are treated with respect and fairness.

“This month serves as a call to action to protect and promote the dignity, choice, and self-determination for every long-term care resident,” Grant said. “Together, we honor and support Weld County’s long-term care residents, encouraging them to stand up for their rights.”

More than 20 Weld County employees, representing key program areas that serve the aging community and individuals living with disabilities including the Long-term Care Ombudsman, Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Adult Protective Services, and the Case Management Agency, were present for the proclamation, underscoring their shared commitment to supporting vulnerable populations across the county.

“Thank you for the difficult but important work that you all do,” said Perry Buck, Weld County Commissioner Chair. “The volume of cases you take on and number of individuals you support is incredible, and we are so thankful to have such hard-working team dedicated to the well-being of long-term care residents.”

Learn more about the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.