Ruth sits in her wheelchair in the nursing home hallway, ignored. She has advanced dementia and appears unaware of her surroundings. The ombudsman approaches her slowly, and holds out her hand. It takes a moment for Ruth's eyes to move toward the ombudsman's hand before she reaches out to grasp it, holding tight. A slight smile crosses her otherwise immobile face. She knows she's being touched and it pleases her. Ruth is still inside, no matter how much memory has been lost.

Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of long-term care facilities. They visit with residents, observe the environment and help solve problems. Volunteer ombudsmen are assigned to facilities so that residents and the ombudsman can get to know each other. Their regular visits build rapport and trust. An ombudsman is often the voice for a resident who is unable or reluctant to complain.

When an elderly person is no longer able to live independently, an assisted living or skilled nursing facility is an alternative. Elders enter long-term care because they need to, not because they want to. Many are depressed, confused or even angry. Life has changed. Age and its infirmities have taken a toll.

Joe, in his early 80s, has lived alone for many years but doesn't take care of himself. He ended up in the hospital and then in an assisted living facility. He thinks he can manage the money he gets from Social Security but he spends it all instead of paying the facility. Joe runs the risk of being evicted. He has no place else to go. His dilapidated trailer has no heat, no water and no electricity. With the ombudsman's help, Joe now has a payee service to look after his finances so he can stay in the facility. Many residents, like Joe, are just too overwhelmed to follow through on their own.

Sometimes the attitude of a facility owner and the staff is so caring that residents are happy to be there. The same staff that was there five years ago is still there. However, in too many places, there is tremendous staff turnover. Or there is a small staff caring for too many residents. Caring for vulnerable elders can be hard work, long hours and low pay. Owners and corporations want to make money, and

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they should, but regardless of the bottom line, residents deserve good care.

Caroline is 89 and in a wheelchair. She has Alzheimer's disease. Her husband died years ago. She has a son in another state who rarely visits. The ombudsman visits Caroline regularly. Even though she doesn't always remember who he is, she enjoys their visits together. They look through Caroline's photo album. She doesn't have much short-term memory but the pictures help her to remember her past and share it with a good listener. One of the things an ombudsman does best is to listen, whether to stories, concerns or complaints.

An ombudsman is a problem-solver. The goal of the ombudsmen is to make sure long-term care residents get the care they need, are treated with the respect they deserve, have a quality of life, and their rights are protected. The need for ombudsmen is growing as the population gets older and more facilities are being built. More volunteers are needed right here in North Idaho.

If your heartstrings are being pulled, maybe becoming a volunteer ombudsman is for you. Training starts Sept. 6.

For information about the Ombudsman Program and how to volunteer, please call: Jan Noyes, Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator, Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho, (208) 667-3179 Ext. 243 or [email protected].