MANSFIELD – Senior living facilities have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 since the first wave hit the U.S. Due to nursing and assisted living facilities being a huge target for outbreaks, seniors and families affected have needed advocates now more than ever.
The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in Region 5, which advocates for excellence in long-term services for seniors, has struggled this past year as the demand for assistance at senior living facilities has gone up.
“We’re able to build relationships with the residents and their family members, along with the professional relationships with the nursing home to see that follow through… and to see that they have improved,” said Melissa Wilson, Ombudsman specialist and volunteer coordinator.
Region 5 services Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot Counties.
Using the Ombudsman program, seniors receive help from volunteers on different issues they face in their residence such as food service, delayed response time from staff, abuse and neglect, etc.
“Sometimes there’s an easy resolution, and it’s more of just a communication issue and (the resident) didn’t get exactly what was needed or what was wanted,” Wilson said. “Other times, it might be more complicated and trying to get the individual what they need. So it might take a little bit longer.”
There are currently 20 volunteers and three staff members for the Region 5 Ombudsman program, and because they cover over 27 facilities in nine counties, their current roster has been stretched thin.
Joyce Thomas, an Ombudsman associate, works as a volunteer at a nursing home in Knox County. Having already worked for hospice in nursing homes as a social worker before retiring, she started volunteering for Ombudsman in 2013.
“I knew what things were going on (in the facilities) and that people just needed somebody to talk to and to give insight to certain things. So, when (Ombudsman) came along, I thought that was a good resource for me to do that,” Thomas said.
Because of the pandemic, volunteers are unable to visit their senior living facilities and have to check in on their seniors by phone and video call instead. They’re also able to help with COVID related questions.
“We have volunteers that are calling weekly or bi-weekly. Some of them call monthly, but they’re reaching out, and they get to know people better than (the staff) do because—as staff—we’re not focused on one home all the time,” Wilson said.
Right now, Thomas volunteers once a week for three and a half hours. The hardest part for her in the past year is not being able to see her clients face to face.
“You can’t see their expressions, you can’t see things that might be going on with body language, which I use as a social worker to be able to help me to process what the people are going through and talking about,” Thomas said.
With over 94 nursing homes and assisted living facilities to cover, Ombudsman continues to recruit so they can have better coverage across Region 5.
“If you’re excited about being able to focus and help people to process all the things that are going on in nursing homes and how that works, (Ombudsman’s) a good place to start. We have excellent training, and we have excellent support,” Thomas said.
Those looking to volunteer must fill out an application as well as undergo 14 hours of training. For more information, call 419-524-4144 and ask for Wilson.
“We couldn’t reach the number of people that we do without our volunteers, and just having them getting to know the people well, and their specific facilities, is huge compared to (the staff) covering multiple facilities at a time,” Wilson said.
