ARISE oversees an advocacy program, known as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, in Onondaga, Cortland, Oswego, and Cayuga counties. This program relies on the efforts of Ombudsman volunteers. ARISE is seeking volunteers who want to be part of this enriching effort and is offering a free training course.
The purpose of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to protect the health, safety, welfare, and civil rights of people living in nursing homes and adult care facilities. Certified Ombudsmen in the program are trained and certified volunteers who advocate for residents’ rights and ensure that their complaints are resolved to support a higher quality of life.
Those who have experienced the program as a volunteer have wonderful things to say about it. Judy Fox, an Ombudsman in Cayuga County, has said, “The best thing I can do for someone is to give them my time and my patience.”
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen must complete a free training course to become certified. This course will give them all of the tools they need to be able to advocate for the residents properly.
ARISE will offer the free Ombudsman training course for interested volunteers on April 27 & 28 and May 4 & 5 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. The training will be hosted by Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Coordinator Jeffrey Parker. People interested in learning more about this program or the training should contact Jeffrey Parker at (315) 671-5108 or jparker@ariseinc.org.