Margaret and Joan are in their 80s and living in an assisted living facility. They accomplished and contributed much in their younger years...working, raising families, and caring for their own aging parents. They are the same people now, but with limited capacity to care for themselves. They deserve the same degree of respect as when they were young and able. Facility caregivers address them as Honey or Sweetie. They never would have addressed them as Honey or Sweetie before Margaret and Joan entered the facility. It would have been disrespectful. It's disrespectful now.

Long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for residents of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. We are concerned with resident rights, quality of care and quality of life. We visit facilities, observe the environment, and help residents solve problems. One of the things we pay close attention to is staff attitude. Are the residents being treated with dignity and respect? Are they given privacy? Are their individual choices considered? Do they feel safe to complain? Are they receiving the care they were promised?

Some facilities do a good job, but there are others right here in Kootenai County that do not meet the standards expected of them. One of the most common and persistent complaints is inadequate staffing. There are no regulations that state a facility must have so many staff to so many residents. As a result, too few staff take care of too many residents. It's a common way facilities cut costs. Cutting costs by cutting staff means cutting care. The residents are the ones who pay the price.

Ombudsmen have not solved all the problems, but we do make a big difference. We have a fantastic team of 17 volunteers and 3 staff members. We need more volunteers. Can you imagine yourself as an ombudsman? If so, our team needs you. These vulnerable elders need you.

Sometimes trying to effect change is frustrating, but it is so worthwhile when you help someone who feels powerless. Last week an ombudsman visited 83-year-old Pamela at a skilled nursing facility. The facility blamed Pamela for the loss of her hearing aids because she couldn't remember where she put them. The ombudsman reminded the facility that Pamela has sight and memory problems and part of the facility's care of the resident is to make sure Pamela's hearing aids are safely cared for. Due to the persistence of the ombudsman, the facility provided Pamela with a new set of hearing aids.

A new volunteer ombudsman training is scheduled for seven Tuesdays, Sept. 11 through Oct. 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Area Agency on Aging in Coeur d'Alene. If you would like to join our team and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable and elderly residents in long term care, please contact Jan Noyes at (208) 667-3179 or [email protected].