Long Term Care Ombudsmen Make a Difference

By Grit Carotenuto

Making a difference in people’s life is what the volunteer ombudsmen do on a regular basis. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program operated through Catholic Charities Senior and Caregiver Support Services serves residents of 93 different facilities throughout ten counties in our Diocese. Ombudsmen visit an assigned nursing home or assisted living facility on a weekly basis. Volunteer ombudsmen help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality of care and quality of life. Volunteers have a made a world of difference in residents’ lives by improving communication between facility staff and residents, encouraging changes in activities to provide more personalized choices, increased quality of care by bringing issues to the facility’s attention and helping to resolve issues and complaints. Ombudsmen have even helped two individuals move from a nursing home setting back into an assisted living residence and/or their own home. 

View program details in this edition of CC Works.