A congressman in California has been recognized by a senior advocacy group for authoring legislation providing extra funding for the state ombudsman program. North Carolina also has a State Ombudsman program which many people do not even know exists. The program provides each county with a person, known as an ombudsman, whose job is to serve as a resource for people in nursing homes, and their families. If a family has a problem that needs addressing, they can call their local ombudsman who can then serve as a mediator of sorts to help the family communicate their concerns to the facility, and to work towards a resolution.