ELMIRA-The Chemung-Schuyler-Tioga Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is recruiting volunteers to serve as trained and certified ombudsman in long term care facilities in Chemung, Schuyler and Tioga, NY counties.  Ombudsmen are advocates for persons who reside in licensed family type homes for adults, adult homes, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Some of the areas an ombudsman may assist with include resident rights and care, financial concerns, food service, medical issues and suspected abuse, mistreatment and neglect.

The main prerequisite for doing this rewarding work is that the volunteer must have good  listening and problem solving skills, be sensitive to the needs of long term care residents and wishes to protect the resident’s rights and ensure their dignity.

A regional five day certification - training program for volunteers will be held in May. Upon successful completion of the program, certified volunteers are assigned to a facility in the community of his or her choice, where they will visit the residents on a weekly basis ( 2 to 4 hours per week). The service is confidential and is cost free.

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, in which a few hours each week can provide valuable help to long term care residents in your community, please call Kim Salisbury, Coordinator Chemung-Schuyler-Tioga Long Term Care Ombudsman Program at 607- 737-5536 or email her at ksalisbury@co.chemung.ny.us.

Click here for more information.