Episode 34 / MCG Podcast Episode 34- The Role of the Ombudsman in APS featuring Teresa Teeple

In this episode, Staci Whitney, LMSW, is joined by Teresa Teeple, the Tennessee State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Teresa brings her deep expertise and experience to address common misunderstandings about what an Ombudsman does. From advocating for residents’ rights to navigating complex long-term care systems, Teresa sheds light on this vital role. This episode highlights the importance of advocacy in long-term care settings and the essential role Ombudsman play in being a voice for residents.

Teresa Teeple has been the Tennessee State Long-Term Care Ombudsman since 2022. In this role, she leads a team of 19 district ombudsman staff who address issues and complaints for residents of roughly 700 long-term care facilities, accounting for around 60,000 beds in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes. She also works to ensure long-term care residents' rights are protected by influencing policies and procedures that may improve their quality of life and care at the local, state, and national levels. Teresa’s entire career has been in aging services, beginning as a local ombudsman and, subsequently, State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Arizona. She then led a team of care managers who worked with older adults and people with disabilities in Rhode Island. Prior to assuming her current role in Tennessee, Teresa oversaw the Ohio Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s advocacy efforts for people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. She holds Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration degrees from The State University of New York Binghamton and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina Asheville.