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SPOKANE – Non-profit SNAP is urgently recruiting volunteers to serve residents of long-term care facilities in Pend Oreille, Ferry, Stevens, Spokane and Whitman counties. The Eastern Washington Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs advocates who will listen to residents’ concerns, explain their rights and help ensure their voices are heard.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program exists to make sure residents have someone outside their facility they can turn to when they have a concern about their care, treatment, living conditions or rights.
“We are in desperate need of volunteers. Pre-COVID, we had 36 – 40 volunteers. Currently we only have 23,” said Aaron Riley, Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman for the Eastern Washington Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. “You can be the voice a resident is waiting for.”
Volunteer Ombudsmen visit residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes and enhanced services facilities. They provide information, help address concerns and complaints and build relationships through regular visits.
For many residents, the relationship with an Ombudsman can be just as important as advocacy.
A regular visit can ease loneliness, uncover an unanswered concern or help a resident know they have someone in their corner.
“Currently in our region we have over 697 facilities,” Riley said.
“We have a capacity to serve over 10,000 people in our region.
All those facilities by law, must allow an ombudsman to visit those residents.”
Volunteers must complete training and spend approximately five hours each week visiting residents and participate in monthly continuing education meetings. No special long-term care experience is required.
SNAP provides training, guidance and ongoing support.
SNAP is planning certification training for the week of Oct. 19.
Interested community members are encouraged to contact the program soon to learn more and get connected.
For more information, call 509-456-7133 or go to website at snapwa.org/ long-term-care-ombudsman.
