Which civil rights do older adults and people with disabilities give up when they enter long-term care facilities?

None, of course — and Tabatha Sebastian aims to keep it that way in the 2,100-square-mile region she oversees for San Bernardino County’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

"I’m really passionate about giving voice to those who are voiceless," says Tabatha. "This population is vulnerable to exploitation and we’re here to make sure their rights are being upheld."

Her employer, WISE & Healthy Aging, began running San Bernardino’s LTCO program in April 2022. In its first year, her team of five staff and three volunteers closed 78% more cases than prior years .

The team also added three Master of Social Work interns, an innovation that allows the office to visit even more skilled nursing homes and other facilities.

Advocating for long-term care residents is among many services empowering older adults in California for 50 years and counting.