Ombudsmen help give a voice to those unable to speak

    John grew up during the depression. He fought in WWII. He knows desperation. When his parents got older, he took care of them. He didn’t consider whether he had a choice. He just did it. Hard work has always been his friend.
    A few weeks ago, John moved to the nursing home. He is having a hard time adjusting. He feels confused more often than he did at home. There are rules and times set for everything. How is he supposed to get used to sharing a room with a stranger? He can’t think straight with the never-ending commotion. John wants to work his way through this, if he could figure out where to start.
    Our elders don’t always know their rights. They may feel isolated or powerless, or they may lack the physical or mental capacity to work through the complexities of problem solving. They get overwhelmed. Sometimes knowing that others feel the same way inspires the resident to ask the ombudsman for help.
    Residents and families frequently ask what ombudsmen do. We tell them that we provide a voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves. We empower others. We investigate complaints. We educate, problem solve, negotiate, and we listen.
    It is discouraging because it is a rare day when we meet someone that understands what an ombudsman does. We are an effective resource that you need to know about. Imagine how long-term care might change if everyone knew their rights and insisted on an environment that promotes and enhances the quality of life for each resident, ensuring dignity, choice and self-determination as required by the Older Americans Act.
    In the 2017 program year, statewide, ombudsmen visited with residents 9,058 times and investigated 3,396 complaints. Seems like a lot until you consider that there were 234 nursing facilities and 674 assisted living residences with 43,709 licensed beds. It is hard to leave the facilities we visit knowing that we might positively impact another life if we stayed for one more visit. Visits alone will never be enough.

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