Many believe this is the season to take account of accomplishments and consider what to do in the coming year. It’s the perfect time to reflect on what we have done to affect the lives of others. Opportunities present themselves daily. One of those opportunities is to be a certified ombudsman volunteer. Sometimes we forget the power of a smile and small acts of kindness that may impact another person’s day. Spending time with someone to listen to their story leaves a lasting impression on both of you. Often going into the new year after the holidays, the joy of the season leaves us. For ombudsman, the magic of the season and opportunity to make an impact, follow us every day of the year. These are words, in part, from an Ohio Volunteer Ombudsman.
Often times visits drop off after the holidays and during inclement weather when families do not live close by their loved ones in nursing and assisted living homes. The importance of the volunteer role is magnified when residents are not getting visits as often and are looking for someone to talk with and someone to advocate for them. There also continues to be staff shortages in many nursing and assisted living homes, causing a need for more visits by volunteers.
Our mission is to advocate for excellence in long-term care (LTC) services and supports wherever individuals live, working to improve their care and quality of life. We advocate for the rights of individuals in 90 nursing and assisted living homes in our 9-county region, including Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot Counties. While Ombudsman Staff assist many individuals, we can reach so many more through the work of our volunteers who visit, make calls, and send cards to LTC residents. Because our volunteers typically cover only one or two facilities, they get to know residents better and are able to more easily see changes and concerns. We currently have 18 volunteers and continue to need more volunteers to cover the over 50 nursing and assisted living homes in which we would love to have a volunteer!
If you are interested in volunteering with us, contact Melissa Wilson at 567-247-6440 or mwilson@aaa5ohio.org for more information.
