Volunteer as an Ombudsman
Requirements
Ombudsmen come in many shapes
and sizes, with a variety of backgrounds. Some are college graduates, others
are not. Some are professionals, some are not.
Regardless of background, education, or experience, there are requirements that must be met.
- Ability to listen
- Ability to be fair and open minded
- Willingness to accept the challenge of working with people in tough situations
- Commitment to improving the quality of life for others
- Sense of fairness
- Ability to accept the values and beliefs of others, especially when the differ from your own
- Openness to learning new things through a basic orientation, training program, and real life experience
- Sense of your abilities to influence the lives of nursing home residents
If you meet these requirements, you could be who we are looking for to take part in this unique, challenging program. We can be the key to helping you learn new skills and make new memories. You can be the key to helping us reach out to nursing home residents.
Training provided to volunteers
Initially, volunteers are required to complete 18 hours of orientation training. Usually spread over three meeting times, this training covers:
- History, structure, and goals of the Ombudsman Program
- The aging process
- Resident rights
- Communication skills
- Negotiation and mediation
- Handling complaints
- Ethics
- State and federal nursing home regulations
- Alzheimer's Disease
- And a host of other issues
This training is followed up by quarterly in-service sessions that educate volunteers and allow them time to get to know their fellow volunteers.
What do volunteers do?
After completing training, volunteers visit residents in a specific facility one to four hours a week. During each visit, volunteers talk with residents and observe happenings within the facilities. If residents express concern and give permission, volunteers will work with the facility staff to resolve these concerns.
After each visit, volunteers complete a short summary form, which is submitted to program staff.
The most important thing that volunteers do is become friends with the residents. Many nursing home residents receive few or no visitors. They are lonely and at a higher risk for depression. A volunteer is a fresh face, a contact with the community outside the nursing home, and a real comfort to the residents.
Residents are not the only ones to gain from ombudsmen visits. Volunteers report gaining:
- New friends
- Personal satisfaction
- A broader understanding and acceptance of elderly and disabled people
- Lessons in perseverance and overcoming obstacles
- Living history lessons
For more information
Please contact Susan Lundquist, our volunteer coordinator, at susanl@marc.org or 816/474-4240 if you are interested in volunteering.