When used in this chapter, unless otherwise required by the context:

(1) "Contractor" means the private nonprofit organization established by contract with the department to provide the services of the office of the state long-term care ombudsman program.

(2) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

(3) "Immediate family" pertaining to conflicts of interest, means spouse, parents, children and siblings who live in the same household or who have, as determined by the state office, a significant financial relationship with the potential ombudsman.

(4) "Long-term care facility" or "facility" is as defined in RCW 43.190.020, and includes, but is not limited to, nursing homes, adult family homes, boarding homes, assisted living facilities, facilities that have a portion of their services established for long-term care, long-term care facilities operated by the Washington state department of veterans affairs, and any facility that is required by law to be licensed but is not.

(5) "Long-term care services" means services provided to residents and applicants of long-term care facilities including, but not limited to, assessment, placement, case management, and determinations regarding benefits, personal care, and health care, but for purposes of these regulations does not mean care or services provided in the applicant's or resident's home outside of a long-term care facility or in other locations outside of a long-term care facility. Services are those provided to residents of all ages, and include, but are not limited to, those provided to individuals with developmental or physical disabilities, mental illness, dementia, or substance abuse problems.

(6) "Ombudsman" means the state long-term care ombudsman, assistant state long-term care ombudsman, regional long-term care ombudsman, regional staff long-term care ombudsman, or certified long-term care volunteer ombudsman.

(7) "Resident" means any individual residing temporarily or permanently in a long-term care facility, and, when concerning complaints about admissions, readmissions, transfers, or discharges, includes applicants and former residents of such facilities.

(8) "State office" means the office of the state long-term care ombudsman.

(9) "Pecuniary interest" for purposes of this chapter means any significant ownership or investment interest.