Area Agency on Aging volunteer Ombudsman Program looking for caring volunteers

  • By Jennifer Kneuss
  • March 4, 2010
  • 923
                        
0x41c9c4a0Those in long-term care often have a limited voice in expressing what they need. Some may be physically limited; others may have mental function deterioration. However, all have a heavy reliance on the good will of others to insure they have the very best of care. “My parents are housed at a local long-term care facility and I visit them every day. I know they are getting good care, but there are times when it is necessary that things be brought to the attention of the staff to make my parents more comfortable,” said Nancy Tarulli Rees. “I often wonder about other residents who have no family to check on things for them. It would mean so much to the residents to know there is someone they can depend on to make sure they are getting the care they need. Really, the requests are very simple.” A wonderful program exists specifically to address the need that Rees points out. In 1971, it was written in the Older Americans Act by the federal government that every state is mandated to have an Ombudsman, or advocacy, program in place. Locally, the Area Agency on Aging is the umbrella organization for the local Ombudsman Program. 0x418407c0“It’s a wonderful program. We respond to questions and complaints about the care received from nursing homes, home health agencies, residential care facilities, adult care facilities, any body actually receiving state and federal funding. Really, anyone who has any cares or concerns about care for the elderly, or anyone else in those long-term care settings, can receive our help,” explained Rhonda Clark, RN, who is the Ombudsman Program supervisor for nine counties, including Tuscarawas and Holmes. “We handle questions, complaints, and concerns. We want to make sure that patients get the best quality of life, and quality of care, that they deserve. We’re the greatest program in the world for this. We are not a regulatory agency, but we do go in and negotiate for the care the patients need and want.” 0x49127a50To do this, the program uses some paid staff, but relies heavily on the kindheartedness of volunteers. Lee Kreinbihl, a retired schoolteacher, is one such volunteer. She served for several years as an ombudsman, and now helps in the Dover office. “I just went to one nursing home. It was rewarding, but at times frustrating. You have patients who have no family… you felt that you were really helping them out,” she said. “The relatives of some of the patients would approach me regarding concerns they might have.” Kreinbihl explained that the rewards were great, and most issues were easily resolved by simply opening up the lines of communication between patients and caregivers. “Most of the problems can be handled by the advocate between the patient and the staff.” There is a great need for more volunteers. “We currently have 24 volunteers in the Ombudsman Program,” said Clark. “That’s for nine counties, including 76 nursing facilities. Right now we have just four in Tuscarawas and one in Holmes. Our ombudsman go through 16 hours of training, in their own counties.” In 2008, there were more than 500 volunteers participating across Ohio. Clark stated that although the time commitment is small, the potential benefits are huge. “They commit to go at least twice a month, and stay at least an hour, as a minimum. However, most of them go at least once a week, and they stay several hours. They get to know residents. They can do what they call advocacy visits, using a checklist, to know what to look for and see how the care is going. This is the resident’s home, and we want to know how it is going for them.” “It’s about being an advocate,” said Kreinbihl, of her work with the Ombudsman Program. “I think it’s very rewarding to know you’re helping these people, who otherwise would not have anyone to turn to.” To volunteer or utilize the Ombudsman Program, contact Clark at the Area Agency on Aging, at 330-0x4af02820364-3465 or 800-967-0615. More information can be found online at www.aa9.org.


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