How to Become a Volunteer Ombudsman

An Ombudsman volunteer is a very rewarding experience. Although the work itself can appear heart breaking, our volunteers have found that they can make a difference in the resident's lives. Whether that difference is preventing future abuse from happening or simply being there for someone who needs a real person to talk to. The real reward comes from the resident when they say, "Thank you, you are the only one who has listened to me".

Do you want to make a difference in your life and the lives of others? Give me a call or send me an email. We can meet and talk more about the program. You must be over the age of 18, have no conflicts of interest related to nursing homes or assisted living facilities, be willing to fill out documentation in a timely manner, and pass a background check. Many of our volunteers comment on how this program has changed their lives for the better.

We provide a two day training and then train you in the field until you are ready to go. You decide what days and times work best for you. In addition, there are monthly roundtable meetings that feature additional trainings as well as help and support to make you a better volunteer.

We ask that you can:

• volunteer about 2 hours a week
• complete documentation in a timely manner
• make a one year commitment

This program is for the truly dedicated. If you are interested, please give me a call or email at 801-468-2853, cjjensen@slco.org.

"I Would Have Planned Differently"

While on a visit at a facility, I came upon an elderly woman named Claire. Claire could not remember how long she had been there but she was ready to leave. She felt very alone and had not made many friends. Claire had five children and only one would visit her on a regular basis. Throughout the conversation the one thing Claire would repeat was, "I took care of my mother and father until they died in my home. That was just the expected thing to do. I assumed that my children would do the same for me. Boy was I wrong!" Claire continued to say, "if only I had known, I would have planned for things differently."

Unfortunately, this is a common scenario for many long-term care facility residents. If you have not done so, please speak with your parents or your children about what you or a loved one's wishes are. This can be an uncomfortable conversation for some but a very necessary one.

There are many great resources on line; Google topics like "how to discuss end of life decisions". There is also the new Advanced Directive. This could be used as a guide for discussion while filling it out. However, REMEMBER that the loved one always has the right to change their mind about their care! Be prepared and know that even though documents have been signed and the Advanced Directive has been filled out, the loved one can still change it.

If you would like a free copy of the Advanced Directive, call me, Charise Jensen at 801-468-2853.

How to find a Long-Term Care Facility

Many times throughout the week we receive calls from frantic family members stating they have just been told mom or dad need to be put in a Long-Term Care (LTC) facility. The following is a list of the advice we give:

• Decide which area of the valley you would like your loved one to be.
• Start with about three facilities from that area.
• Visit the facility. Be sure to go at different times especially in the evening and on weekends as that is when we receive the most complaints.
• Print the nursing home guide on our website (it is under Ombudsman in the Salt Lake County Aging website). Use this guide as you are visiting the facility.
• Review the LTC facilities current State survey. It is usually at the front desk in a binder. If you can not find it, ask for it. This will give you an idea of the different types of complaints the facility has had with the state.
• Call us!!! We can give you additional information about any other complaints the LTC facility has received.
• We can also send you a 55+ book free of charge. This is a resource book of different services offered to people 55 years and older. The book also has lists of the different LTC facilities.

There is not one perfect LTC facility. Generally there is a consistent change of staff and administrators. The best thing to help with the care of your loved one is to visit on a regular basis. Get to know the staff and the other residents. Be aware of the care your loved one is receiving. If there are concerns and they are not getting addressed, call us! We can help you advocate for your loved one.

Unspoken

Being an Ombudsman volunteer is not just about "digging up the dirt" it's also about validating the resident. The majority of residents are lonely and do not have much interaction with the outside world. Our volunteers have opportunity to give the residents time to express themselves.

This is the experience of one of our volunteers during a Long Term Care (LTC) facility visit, he says, "I spent a few minutes in the "social room" with a resident who could not speak, so I don't know her name. She waved me in as I walked by. When I sat down she handed me a deck of cards. I shuffled them and handed them back. She dealt one down and one up to both of us. I realized we were playing blackjack; so I played until the deck was dealt through. I never could get the resident to speak to me, but she seemed genuinely pleased that I sat down and played."

Our volunteers are a listening ear even if no words are spoken. This resident was able to have a piece of time where she was not being talked over, ignored or rushed. She had a moment were she felt like a person again.