Have you ever spent time in a nursing home? Perhaps you were there for rehab or perhaps you have a loved one who lived in one. If so, you know that they can be difficult to get used to. Nobody wants to go to a nursing home; however, sometimes it’s the only viable option.
Did you know there is a volunteer program designed to help ensure residents of nursing homes have the
best quality of life possible? It’s called the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. ARISE oversees this
program in Onondaga, Cortland, Oswego and Cayuga counties, and 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.”
As an ombudsman, you will have the opportunity to regularly visit a local nursing home or other adult
care facility to advocate for residents and help ensure they are receiving quality, person-centered 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 Oct. 26, 30 and 31 and Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 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.