Community Advisory Committee Members

Community Advisory Committee Members are volunteer advocates in each county who are appointed by the county commissioners to serve on the nursing and adult care home community advisory committees in each county (G.S. 131E-128 and 131D-31).

There are over 1,300 volunteers state-wide. These volunteers are trained and assisted by the regional ombudsmen.

The primary purposes of the advisory committees are to maintain the intent of the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Resident Bill of Rights within nursing homes and adult care homes across North Carolina and to promote community involvement and cooperation with such homes to ensure quality of care for older adults.

The advisory committees are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners in each county. The committees are responsible for advising the county commissioners of the general conditions existing in the long term care facilities within each county. The committees fulfill this obligation through formal and informal visits to the facilities. In addition, they submit quarterly and annual reports to the county commissioners and the Regional Ombudsman. Community advisory committees assist individuals in resolving grievances with facilities at the local level. The extent of the assistance is limited to the success of mediation or conciliation at the local level. The committees do not have the regulatory power to force a remedy.

Although the community advisory committees have the authority to assist in resolving a grievance with the consent of the resident or responsible party, the bulk of the complaint investigations and resolution activity is handled by the Regional Ombudsman.

If you are interested in becoming a Community Advisory Committee member in your county, please contact your County Clerk of Court or your local Ombudsman Program.