MANY OF US WHO CELEBRATE winter holidays become self-reflective and want to give back. We might donate to the Salvation Army bell ringers or even adopt a family to give gifts. But sometimes giving back can be difficult if you don’t necessarily have extra income. Remember, there are other ways to show you care and sometimes the time you give is just as valuable if not more valuable than a monetary donation. If you would like to be of service to your community, volunteering is a great way to be generous this time of year and all year.
Our regional program serves 17 counties in our area, spanning east, west, and south. As part of ombudsman work, we visit all of the nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in our coverage area at least once per quarter. As you can imagine, this is an area of practice where the value of volunteer ombudsmen can’t be overstated. We also participate in educational programming and outreach and again rely on our volunteers to convey the importance of our work to the public and other potential volunteers.
The Ombudsman Program relies heavily on the kindness and dedication of our staff and volunteers to reach out and advocate for long-term-care consumers. While it is sometimes a tough road with our advocacy, the immeasurable impact you can have on any one resident just by “being there” is a great reason to volunteer with us.
At this time of year, I always think of ombudsman work in the context of one of my favorite holiday films, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in which the character George Bailey is discouraged at his station in life and thinks he isn’t contributing anything meaningful. But when he gets a look at what life would be like for those around him if he weren’t there, he understands that you may impact others without
n even realizing it. Whenever I get discouraged with a particularly difficult case or the recurring issues we might see in facilities, I try to remember that sometimes just being present can be a comfort for residents who just want someone to listen.
So, if you are interested in learning more about becoming an ombudsman, or if you feel like an ombudsman could help you or your loved one, please reach out to us at 419-259-2891.
Lori Davis is Region 4 Volunteer Coordinator for the Ombudsman office, and Megan Benner Senecal is a member of the Ombudsman Office. ✲
