<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Good morning all,</div><div>Thought I'd pass this along, it sounds like a great way to get involved. </div><div>Best,</div><div>Nallym<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Sherri" <<a href="mailto:flmom2006@gmail.com">flmom2006@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b> August 7, 2011 12:04:42 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Nfbf-l] a great volunteer opportunity</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>I saw this in Dear Abby. It sounds like a wonderful volunteer opportunity </span><br><span>for any of us.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Sherri</span><br><span></span><br><span>DEAR ABBY: You often advise readers who have the time to reach out and </span><br><span>volunteer. There's a little-known program in every state that was mandated </span><br><span>by a 1978 amendment to the "Older Americans Act." It's the Long Term Care </span><br><span>Ombudsman Program. Its goal is to help assure that long-term care facility </span><br><span>residents live harmoniously and with dignity, feeling free to voice </span><br><span>complaints or concerns without reprisal.</span><br><span>There's a need nationwide for volunteers to make this program work. The </span><br><span>ultimate goal is to have one volunteer in each nursing home. After training </span><br><span>is completed, volunteers spend eight to 16 hours a month visiting their </span><br><span>assigned nursing homes. They talk with the residents and observe conditions. </span><br><span>If there's a complaint, they take it to their regional ombudsman for </span><br><span>resolution.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Once residents get to know and trust you, they will share wonderful life </span><br><span>stories. Some of them have no one to talk to, no visitors or family. A </span><br><span>volunteer ombudsman is the voice for those who have none, and helps to make </span><br><span>each community a better place to live for all its residents.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The nursing homes like to have volunteer ombudsmen visit their facilities </span><br><span>because they want to provide the best care possible for their residents. -- </span><br><span>JILL IN VAN BUREN, ARK.</span><br><span></span><br><span>DEAR JILL: Forgive me if this seems cynical, but some do and some don't -- </span><br><span>which is exactly why it's so important that there are trained observers </span><br><span>willing to regularly visit nursing home patients to ensure they are properly </span><br><span>cared for. Readers, this is important work. If you are interested in </span><br><span>volunteering, contact your local social services agency, Department of Aging </span><br><span>or search online for the word "ombudsman" and the state in which you reside.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Sherri Brun</span><br><span><a href="mailto:flmom2006@gmail.com">flmom2006@gmail.com</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.</span><br><span>Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one </span><br><span>is paying attention.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Nfbf-l mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:Nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">Nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span><a href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l:</span><br><span><a href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/nbrav003%40fiu.edu">http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/nbrav003%40fiu.edu</a></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>