Volunteering With Ombudsman, Inc.
The Long Term Care Ombudsman is one of the many opportunities the Health and Human Services Agency offers adults to help out and volunteer in their communities. The Ombudsman program welcomes and trains new volunteers.About Volunteering
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen are volunteers who assist residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, assisted living facilities and adult day health care facilities. They provide an on-going presence in long-term care facilities, monitor care and conditions and provide a voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves. You can make a difference as a Volunteer Ombudsman.
For example, June Singer, Ombudsman volunteer, says
"Being an Ombudsman offers the opportunity to really make a difference in someone's life and see the difference right now. Sadly, a great many nursing home residents never have visits by friends and relatives, so it's a chance to ease the anxiety of that person who feels totally alone and abandoned, often frustrated by being ignored. It's a one-on-one job. You'll have to be creative sometimes to negotiate a solution to a challenging problem. You have to look for different ways to do this, but the residents need someone who can make sure their voices are heard. You've got to be compassionate, patient and listen really well -- and on occasion, be firm about corrective measures to be made."
Ombudsman ResponsibilitiesThe Ombudsman provides services for residents in long-term care facilities (and to their families and friends). Responsibilities are outlined in Title VII of the Older Americans Act:
- Ombudsmen are State of California mandated (required) reporters of elder abuse.
- Check the quality of the conditions of care, such as: meals, financial problems, theft, communications, activities, residents' rights, therapies, and medical care.
- Identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities;
- Mediate (help to solve) problems and conflicts;
- Provide information to residents about long-term care services;
- Offer information to assist family and friends in selecting long term care facilities and assessing the level of care needed. Ombudsmen give information on deficiencies and background of facilities.
- Educate and inform consumers and the general public regarding issues related to long-term care, including rights, issues of abuse, physical and chemical restraints, transfer and discharge concerns, as well as privacy and confidentiality;
- Provide technical support for the development and maintenance of resident and family councils;
- Witness Advance Directives for Health Care. (They verify documents that assign someone to make decisions for the resident's health care)
- Ombudsman, Inc. (the agency) is designated by the State of California to receive reports from mandated reporters of elder abuse in long term care facilities.
A retired hospital chaplain describes his role as an Ombudsman. He says
"I was really drawn to being an Ombudsman, because I wanted to put my training as a clinical chaplain to good use. I visit two skilled nursing facilities with a total of 250 residents on a regular basis. Most of the residents are very poor. I have given trainings on patients' rights to facilitate staffs and often participate in interdisciplinary team meetings. My background in pain management and serious illnesses makes it easier to connect with staff, residents, and families. Recently I helped the family of a resident with advanced multiple sclerosis obtain consultations from a speech pathologist and plan for the nutritional care of their mother as she loses her ability to swallow. .. My work is varied: I might be helping a resident get out of a bad rooming situation; I might be talking with some one who has raised the question of death and dying for the first time."
Do These Descriptions Fit You? Able to communicate well orally and in writing. Good listener. Open-minded, non-judgmental, fair. Honest. Tactful and diplomatic.Resourceful in managing a variety of situations and able to work on a problem until it is solved and able to determine the true nature of the problem behind a complaint.
You want to make a difference in the lives of seniors and the disabled.
Can You Do This? Attend a 36-hour initial training? Attend 12 hours of training annually? Commit up to 20 hours of volunteer time each month?
Then You Would Make an Excellent Ombudsman!!!
Would You Like To Become a Volunteer Ombudsman?
Becoming an Ombudsman is making a commitment to seniors living in long-term care facilities. It's probably the most rewarding job you will ever do! Volunteers who are bilingual are especially helpful because they bring their cultural understanding and language skills to help residents feel understood and comfortable in getting help.For more information, contact us at the Alameda County Ombudsman's office. To get a printable volunteer application form to become a Long-Term Care Ombudsman click here. Just mail your completed application to the address listed on the top of the application.
Thank you!
