Five New Ombudsmen Ready to Advocate for Long-Term Care Residents
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Five newly trained ombudsmen are ready to advocate for residents of long-term care facilities across Northeast Indiana after completing certification training through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of Northeast Indiana.
Jordan Davis, Charlene Carr, Paul Block, Kassandra Buckland and Miah Miller each completed 36 hours of training, including 10 hours of job shadowing, preparing them to advocate for the rights, choices and well-being of people living in long-term care facilities.
Pictured from left to right: Jordan Davis, Charlene Carr, Paul Block, Kassandra Buckland. Miah Miller, also completed her training, is not pictured.
Davis, Carr, Block and Miller will serve as volunteer ombudsmen. Buckland, the program’s Volunteer Engagement & Community Sponsorship Coordinator, also completed the training.
“Every new ombudsman means more residents have someone who will show up, listen and make sure their voice is heard,” said Zanzy Lewis, executive director of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of Northeast Indiana. “We are incredibly proud of these five individuals for making the commitment to become advocates for people living in long-term care. Their willingness to serve will make a meaningful difference for residents and their families throughout our region.”
Long-term care ombudsmen serve as advocates for people living in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. They visit facilities, build relationships with residents, provide information about residents’ rights and help address concerns or complaints at the direction of the resident.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is authorized under the federal Older Americans Act and provides free and confidential advocacy services to residents of long-term care facilities. The Northeast Indiana program serves Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties.
Volunteer ombudsmen play an important role in extending the program’s reach throughout the nine-county region. Their training prepares them to understand residents’ rights, recognize concerns, communicate with residents and facility staff, and advocate effectively while keeping the resident’s wishes at the center of the process.
The program continues to welcome individuals interested in becoming volunteer ombudsmen. Volunteers have the opportunity to build relationships with residents and provide a consistent, independent voice for individuals who may otherwise struggle to have their concerns heard.
