[Nfbf-l] a great volunteer opportunity

[Sherri]

I saw this in Dear Abby. It sounds like a wonderful volunteer opportunity 
for any of us.

Sherri

DEAR ABBY: You often advise readers who have the time to reach out and 
volunteer. There's a little-known program in every state that was mandated 
by a 1978 amendment to the "Older Americans Act." It's the Long Term Care 
Ombudsman Program. Its goal is to help assure that long-term care facility 
residents live harmoniously and with dignity, feeling free to voice 
complaints or concerns without reprisal.
There's a need nationwide for volunteers to make this program work. The 
ultimate goal is to have one volunteer in each nursing home. After training 
is completed, volunteers spend eight to 16 hours a month visiting their 
assigned nursing homes. They talk with the residents and observe conditions. 
If there's a complaint, they take it to their regional ombudsman for 
resolution.

Once residents get to know and trust you, they will share wonderful life 
stories. Some of them have no one to talk to, no visitors or family. A 
volunteer ombudsman is the voice for those who have none, and helps to make 
each community a better place to live for all its residents.

The nursing homes like to have volunteer ombudsmen visit their facilities 
because they want to provide the best care possible for their residents. --  
JILL IN VAN BUREN, ARK.

DEAR JILL: Forgive me if this seems cynical, but some do and some don't --  
which is exactly why it's so important that there are trained observers 
willing to regularly visit nursing home patients to ensure they are properly 
cared for. Readers, this is important work. If you are interested in 
volunteering, contact your local social services agency, Department of Aging 
or search online for the word "ombudsman" and the state in which you reside.


Sherri Brun
flmom2006 at gmail.com

Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.
Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one 
is paying attention.