Each April, during Volunteer Appreciation Week, STEP Office of Aging celebrates the impact of volunteer services in our communities. Long Term Care Ombudsmen are one group of very special volunteers that make a huge impact on the Nursing Home and Personal Care Home communities they serve in Lycoming and Clinton counties.
Ombudsmen advocate for the quality of life and quality of care of residents in those facilities. They are unique in that they only act with the approval of, and at the direction of the individual resident. All interactions are totally confidential unless the resident (or their representative if the resident is unable to speak for themself) gives the ombudsman permission to share information and intervene.
In Lycoming and Clinton counties, there are 10 Nursing Homes, 17 Personal Care Homes and 1 staff ombudsman. The ombudsman program could not function without these extremely important and skilled volunteers. In order to become an ombudsman volunteer, candidates receive approximately 30 hours of training, in the form of on-line modules they complete independently, in person (Zoom) classes, and shadowing an experienced ombudsman in a variety of activities. When they are confident in their knowledge of resident rights and the ombudsman philosophy, they choose a facility to visit on a regular basis, getting to know residents and building trust. Monthly breakfast meetings and continuing education programs provide ongoing support to the volunteer Ombudsmen.
For questions about the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program or information about becoming a volunteer, please contact Traci Foster, staff Long Term Care Ombudsman at STEP Office of Aging 570-666-2764. Many thanks to our current dedicated volunteers who together donated almost 600 hours of service last year and have volunteered for 64 years of combined service!
