The Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass is an independent, nonprofit agency headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. NHOA was founded in 1981 by citizens concerned about conditions in nursing homes. They organized to provide advocacy services to frail, vulnerable elders and people with disabilities using the federal Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program as the authorizing framework and model. Today, NHOA’s Bluegrass District Ombudsman Program is a nationally-recognized program serving more than 5,600 long-term care residents in 17 central Kentucky counties. NHOA employs a corps of 30 certified ombudsmen who visit residents, monitor the quality of care, and provide comprehensive advocacy services. The Bluegrass District also operates a Friendly Visitor program, which pairs volunteers with long-term care residents who need ongoing companionship. Since September 2014, Kentucky’s Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) has contracted with NHOA to operate the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Kentucky has 15 District Ombudsmen who coordinate ombudsmen services. The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Sherry Culp, heads the statewide program and provides technical assistance to district ombudsmen. She is assisted by two Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsmen.