Residents in nursing homes are among the most frail and vulnerable Texans. At times, they need help to improve their quality of life and care. An ombudsman can provide assistance so all facility residents receive respectful and competent care. The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the Capital Area is asking persons interested in helping to enhance the quality of life for nursing home residents to volunteer as long-term care ombudsmen. The goal of the program is to help provide the best possible quality of life for residents in a long term care facility.
“Currently we have sixty-six (66) nursing homes with approximately 7,000 residents, “ said Harry Comer, Program Manager for the Area Agency on Aging for the Capital Area. “We only have thirty-two volunteers serving these nursing homes. “
The CAPCOG’s Ombudsman Program has been in place for 27 years. The Ombudsman Program is designed so that each AAA is provided with a level of funding that enables them to have paid staff to provide program implementation and oversight. The program is dependent upon volunteers to carry out the State’s facility coverage requirements due to the number of facilities and the vastness of the region.
Long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and similar adult care facilities. They provide an on-going presence in long-term care facilities, monitoring care and conditions and providing a voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves. The ombudsman is specially trained and certified to advocate for quality care by developing positive relationships with facility residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
“There are still many nursing homes in the hill country that do not have an ombudsman. By becoming a volunteer ombudsman, you can help make sure that nursing home residents receive the care and services to which they are entitled.” said Comer. “The goal of our program is to find a volunteer for every nursing home in our region.”
For more information about becoming part of a valuable community resource in our 10-county area, please call 1-886-622-9111 or email at hcomer@capcog.org .