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Senior News January, 2004 Vol. 25. No. 1
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
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Service with a smile-Volunteers make a difference in our community Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteers are community members who face life head on and work to make a difference for their neighbors. These advocates visit residents in long-term care settings to look and listen for ways to help-it's that simple. Some work toward changing the system, some work toward making the day-to-day issues better. Some work toward educating residents about the rights they have, some work as investigators to resolve problems. The thing they all have in common is the desire to serve in our community to make a difference in the lives of elders. A typical visit to a skilled nursing home may go something like volunteer Darlene Hicks-Johnston's experience. She walks into a local care home that she's been visiting three to six times a month for the past three years. She knows most of the residents, and they know and trust her. She pops in and says good afternoon to Mr. Smith and asks how his lunch was today She remembers when he was losing weight-now his weight has stabilized and he looks and feels better. As Darlene walks around greeting people, she notices an unpleasant odor coming from one of the rooms. She knocks on the door and finds Mrs. Jones needs staff help, but can't reach her call bell. Darlene hands the call cord to Mrs. Jones who pushes it and soon the aide comes to help her. The director of nurses tells Darlene they have a new resident who would like some information about the durable power of attorney for health care. Darlene finds the resident and tells her about the document and asks if she would like to execute one-she doesn't today, but maybe next time. An ombudsman must be a witness when this document is signed in the long-term care setting. Darlene spends about two hours in the nursing home on this visit. She has visited with more than half the residents and made a difference in their lives. People volunteer to be an ombudsman for many different reasons. Darlene became a volunteer because she wanted to change a life and let the elderly know that they are still important-and that they do have representation even though they are out of their homes. If you would like to make a difference in the life of an elder, please contact the ombudsman office for a training schedule. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman office is located at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, 443-9747 ext. 220. Kim Laney is Ombudsman Care Manager for the Humboldt Senior Resource Center. Her e-mail is klaney@humsenior.org . |
Senior News