The Ombudsman Program wants YOU!

Remember the posters that read, "Uncle Sam Want YOU?" Probably not. They were World War II recruiting posters that inspired eager and brave young men and women to rush to the nearest Army recruiting office.

"The Ombudsman Program Wants YOU!" isn't nearly as catchy but just as sincere. Such posters might appeal to retired men and women looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity, one that makes a difference in the quality of people's lives ... people who live in long-term care facilities because it's no longer safe for them to live independently.

So what are long term care ombudsmen? Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of long-term care facilities. We're voices for the residents. We visit facilities, keep our eyes and ears alert and help solve problems. Ombudsmen are concerned with residents' rights, quality of care and quality of life.

In Idaho there are 287 assisted living facilities with 9,130 beds, and 78 skilled nursing facilities with 5,960 beds. Facility residents throughout the U.S. add up to hundreds of thousands of people. That's a lot, and the number of facilities and residents is growing as people live longer and our population increases. Here in North Idaho, there are currently 41 assisted living and 11 skilled nursing facilities. Great, you say, all those facilities taking care of all those people ... so what's the problem?

The problem is that all the residents are not taken care of the way they should be. Now, don't get me wrong, some facilities right here in North Idaho are doing a good job. I wish I could say that about all of them. People want to age in place, at home, or at least in a home-like place. Some facilities are home-like, but when huge corporations buy and build facilities, the bottom line often becomes more important than providing the best care and environment.

Too often, even in some privately owned facilities, staffing and training are inadequate. Staff works hard but can't meet all the needs. By far, inadequate staffing is the biggest complaint of residents and their families. One reason, of course, is that staffing costs a lot of money and it cuts down on the return of investment. Not enough money coming in? Cut down on the number of staff. Or the quality of food. Or activities.

Needs grow but change is slow. Residents are generally elderly and need more assistance as time goes by. Inadequate staffing, poor training, and that ever present bottom line trump meeting the needs of the residents. Not all facilities are lacking in TLC, but there are enough problems at the facilities in North Idaho to call out, "The Ombudsman Program Wants YOU!"

Being an ombudsman is a rewarding way to volunteer and do something really worthwhile. A volunteer ombudsman training is scheduled for seven Tuesdays, April 22 through June 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If this sounds like something you'd like to know more about, contact Jan Noyes at 667-3179 or jnoyes@aaani.org.