There’s no better time to become an advocate for seniors living in long-term care as a member of the Area Agency on Aging, Region One Ombudsman program.
The program is looking for caring individuals to visit assisted living homes and skilled nursing facilities to make residents aware of their rights, work to resolve problems and bring about changes at the local, state and national level to improve resident quality of life and care in long-term care facilities.
“Seniors living in long-term care facilities may not be aware of their rights and our Ombudsman staff and volunteers are advocates for those residents,” said Ombudsman Volunteer Coordinator Fran Atkinson.
Ombudsmen are responsible for:
• Identifying and investigating complaints
• Providing information to residents about long-term care services
• Educating and informing residents, facility staff, families and others about resident rights
• Promoting the development of resident and family councils
• Advocating for changes to improve residents’ qualify of life and care.
Volunteers are supported by the Ombudsman staff and will complete a comprehensive training program that includes in-the-field experiences and they will be supported by the Ombudsman staff.
For information about the program, call (602) 241-6132 or email fran.atkinson@aaaphx.org.
For information about other programs and services, visit www.aaaphx.org.
