Volunteer Ombudsmen expand our capacity to address the needs of long term care residents. Working under the supervision of paid staff, volunteer ombudsmen advocate for residents of long-term care facilities (nursing homes, residential care homes and assisted living residences). They are assigned to facilities in their community. They make frequent and unannounced visits to these facilities, responding to resident complaints, reporting serious problems to supervisors, participating in the nursing home survey process, and providing residents and their families with information. Most important, they must be committed to promoting and protecting the right of each resident to self determination and a dignified existence.
Once they are accepted into our program, Volunteers complete 20 hours of classroom training and 30 hours of field training to becoming a certified volunteer ombudsman. Volunteers are required to attend approximately 10 in-service trainings each year. They must provide their own transportation although we reimburse for mileage. We ask for a commitment to 3 to 5 hours per week for a minimum of 1 year.
Individuals who want to volunteer must be at least 18 years old. They must complete an application, be interviewed by paid staff, provide references and consent to a criminal background check.
Contact people:
Alice Nicholson, Regional Ombudsman, (800) 769-6728
Jackie Majoros, State Long Term Care Ombudsman, (802) 863-5620