Where your caring counts

Jake pulled a fellow sailor overboard to safety when his destroyer was sunk by a torpedo in World War II. He was big and strong then. The thought of living in a nursing home when he got old never crossed his mind. But eventually a stroke changed that and he's now in an assisted living facility depending on others to keep him safe.

Problem is, the staff member that delivered Jake's medications didn't stay around to watch him take the pills, and Jake hid them in a drawer. Jake's well-being was at risk because the caregiver was rushed and careless. Staff knows better. After all, it's their job to care for the residents. But when facilities are short-staffed and caregivers are in a hurry, residents don't get the attention they deserve. Jake's family complained to the ombudsman. As a result, the facility scheduled an in-service for the staff about rules and regulations regarding dispensing medications.

Ombudsmen visit facilities to help make positive changes. Would you like to be on our ombudsmen team that makes a difference in vulnerable elder lives? This is where your caring counts.

Joan was a wonderful homemaker ... a busy wife and mother of four kids. Now that she has Alzheimer's, most of her memories are from those bygone years. She's still drawn to the kitchen and the laundry room at her assisted living facility. But both are potentially dangerous places for her now. On a recent visit to Joan's facility, an ombudsman observed vegetables cooking on the stove with no staff attending and the laundry room door open with washing chemicals in plain view. A safety meeting was scheduled for the entire staff. Now staff stays in the kitchen when cooking and all utility room doors are locked.

Ombudsmen advocate for residents of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. They focus on resident rights, quality care and quality life. They visit facilities, observe the environment, and help solve problems for the benefit of the residents.

William's brother George visits him at the skilled nursing facility every few weeks and badgers him relentlessly. It takes William several days to calm down. An ombudsman visits William and explains his resident rights. William has the right to have visitors of his choice and to make the rules. From now on George can visit William in the lobby but only as long as William wants him there.

Residents of long term care have rights ... to be fully informed ... to complain ... to participate in one's own care ... to privacy and confidentiality ... to dignity, respect and freedom ... to visits ... to independent choice ... to rights during transfer and discharge. When rights are disregarded, the ombudsmen steps in.

If you want to make a difference, come join our team. An ombudsman volunteer training is scheduled for Tuesdays, Sept. 11 through Oct. 23, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Area Agency on Aging in Coeur d'Alene. If you live anywhere in the 5 northern counties of Idaho, come join our team. Contact Jan Noyes at 208-667-3179 Ext. 243 or jnoyes@aaani.org.