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Lori Davis is Region 4 Volunteer Coordinator for the Ombudsman office. ✲
WE CAN DO SO MUCH good with our time. Even if you have only a small window of free time with competing responsibilities and passions, all that our program asks from volunteers is four hours a month.
Volunteers are an integral part of the Long-Term-Care-Ombudsman Program. Our certified ombudsman associates visit nursing-home, assisted- living, and group-home residents. The goal of the visits is to build relationships with interested residents and serve as an advocate for quality care.
Our volunteers come from many backgrounds and donate their time in a variety of ways. In 2022, our regional volunteers made over 600 visits to long-term-care facilities.
So, what can you do with those four hours a month? Our volunteers make visits, handle cases, participate in community events, and even help us manage our data. We are always looking for new faces with a passion for caring for the elderly and those who live in long-term-care settings, to join our team.
Many of our volunteers tell us how meaningful being an ombudsman is to them personally. Our volunteer Ann Marie P. explained, “Opportunities are presented to us on a daily basis. The question is, are we ready to accept each opportunity? My opportunity came when I was accepted as a certified volunteer. Sometimes we forget the power of a smile and small acts of kindness that impact another person’s day. Also, spending time with someone and having a short conversation to listen to their story leaves a lasting impression on both of you. For one magic moment, someone knows that we care and are there for them.”
If you would like to join Ann Marie and our other volunteers and seize this opportunity, there are a few steps. Please reach out to us and you will receive an application. Once we screen the applications and an individual is approved to move forward, we provide free classes and in-field instruction. Once training is completed, our candidates are certified as volunteer ombudsmen and can begin their advocacy, taking advantage of ongoing support and continuing education from ombudsman staff.
For more information about the Long-Term-Care-Ombudsman Program’s services and our volunteer program, call 419-259-2891 or 1-800542-1874.
