Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ombudsman's Office needs volunteers

Everyone deserves to live their lives with dignity and respect. One agency provides a voice for the concerns of long-term care residents, primarily in nursing homes.

The Ombudsman’s Office needs up to 14 volunteers to be that voice in DarkeCounty. As a Long Term Care Ombudsman, volunteers will commit just four hours per month to visiting one or more long-term care facilities. These important advocates will observe each facility’s environment and perform meaningful advocacy on behalf of nursing home residents, informing residents of their rights and building friendships. Local training will be provided for this position. Volunteers should be at least 18 years of age, and a criminal background check may be required. No previous experience is required for this position, but volunteers must be reliable, possess effective communication skills and have compassion and respect for older adults.

“Volunteers are essential in helping to communicate simple requests and demonstrate that nursing home residents are not invisible,” says Monica Wynn, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Director. “They are often able to spend more time fostering trust with a resident who may be uncomfortable speaking up about their needs and concerns.”

To learn more about this volunteer opportunity or other opportunities within our community, please contact HandsOn West Central Ohio at (937) 548-8002 ext. 211, or visit www.handsonwestcentralohio.org. HandsOn West Central Ohio, including Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, is a program of Council on Rural Services. This program receives funding from Darke County United Way, Corporation for National Service, Area Agency on Aging, PSA2, Darke County Commissioners, Lydia E. Shaurer Trust, Harry Stephens Trust and the Darke County HOPE Foundation.

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