Long Term Care Ombudsman Volunteer

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Ombudsman is a Swedish word meaning citizen’s representative. Become an advocate to others in your community, by becoming an Ombudsman volunteer!

Our faith-based organization is seeking volunteers 21 years and older to visit long-term care facilities. We ask volunteers for a one or two-year commitment. This not only allows volunteers and residents to get to know each other but also the volunteer gains experience in resident directed advocacy.

In Illinois, volunteers represent the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program when they visit residents in long-term care facilities. We provide the training needed to enable volunteers to help residents know their rights, support resident preferences, and empower residents to obtain personalized care. Volunteers receive initial and ongoing training, by attending regular in-services from experts in various areas of elder rights, laws and advocacy. Volunteers must complete Level 1 training including 4 hours of mentoring and Level 2 training, each is approximately 12-14 hours total.

Overview:

While volunteers serve as the resident’s eyes and ears, they are more importantly the heart of the Ombudsman program. An Ombudsman volunteer has compassion, respect for older adults, good listening skills including the ability to take direction from the resident, and common sense.

Responsibilities:

Volunteers will usually visit residents in one or two facilities near their homes on a regular basis. A minimum of 6 hours a month is requested. Volunteer hours are flexible - nursing homes and residential care facilities are open 24 hours a day.

Volunteer Ombudsmen will attend monthly Resident Council Meetings and eventually do routine visits which involve: walking the entire facility, introducing self to staff and residents, passing out brochures while informing residents and staff about the program, listening to residents’ concerns and problems; and reporting those concerns to the Ombudsman Supervisor. Documentation is required.

The need:

Volunteers are needed to serve in Will, Grundy and Kankakee Counties.