BackThe Ombudsman Program of Tennessee's Mid-Cumberland Region
Article submitted by the Volunteer Coordinator at Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency.
For more information, they can be reached at 615-850-3936.
The Ombudsman Program is a federally funded program authorized by the Older American Act. The word "Ombudsman" means Advocate. The mission of the Ombudsman Program is to protect the rights and dignity of elderly residents in long term care facilities through investigation and resolution of their complaints.
The Ombudsman Program performs these specific federally mandated functions:
- Investigate and resolve complaints made by older persons in long-term care facilities
- Monitors the development and implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies, provide information to the general public and social service agencies
- Recruit and train volunteers
- Assist in the development of citizen organizations
- Public awareness
The Ombudsman Program of Tennessee's Mid-Cumberland region covers 13 counties, and has 180 long-term facilities serving approximately 12,000 senior residents. More than half of these seniors do not have family or friends to advocate for them. For some seniors, in long-term care facilities, the Ombudsman Program is their only hope to have their voices heard and their needs met. The District Ombudsman works with the long term care facilities to resolve the problems the residents face that compromise the care they receive.
State regulations require only two hours of care in each 24-hour period for each long-term care resident. Therefore, community-minded individuals are needed to make sure residents receive the care to which they are entitled. In order to do this, there is an urgent need for volunteers in all 180 long-term care facilities. Presently there are 38 volunteers in the program. Volunteer Ombudsman Representatives are trained and certified to investigate complaints, inform residents of their rights and to insure residents a more dignified life. The volunteers visit their assigned facility (a facility of their choice) approximately four hours a week at times and days of their choice. Volunteers are the backbone of the Ombudsman Program. If you are concerned about the rights and health of our state's elderly residing in long-term care facilities and would like to do something to help, you can become a Volunteer Ombudsman Representative.