Join Us As a Field Ombudsman
Field Ombudsmen are called to facilities to mediate, negotiate and bring about resolution between residents, facilities and family members. Our job is not to “fix” the issue for the resident, but rather empower the resident to address the issue, when possible, and work cooperatively with all parties to bring about change and progress. We support compliance through education model and find that Field Ombudsmen are often called upon to provide on the spot education and information for facility staff and administrators.
Training
Becoming a Certified California Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a enriching and invigorating process that includes a comprehensive 40 hour training program that is a mix of online, in person and in the field designed to give potential Field Ombudsman a holistic knowledge of the aging community and gain deeper understanding about how they can empower and assist LTC residents.
After completing the initial training program and passing a background check our Field Ombudsman complete a short “internship” where they have the opportunity to visit facilities under the guidance of a seasoned ombudsman. This typically takes 1.5 months and is a highly interactive process.
Following the successful completion of the training program, internship and background check a Field Ombudsman is assigned to a set of facilities to visit, but always operates in partnership with a staff supervisor.
In order to keep Field Ombudsman on the cutting edge of aging and long-term care we provide ongoing monthly training.
Time Commitment
We encourage our Field Ombudsman to have active personal lives, but respectfully ask for a commitment of the following:
- 10-15 hours a month
- at least one year of service (many volunteers stay with us for decades)
- Attendance at monthly trainings (2 hours)
Prerequisites
- Be at least 18 years old
- Must not have worked in a long-term care facility in the past 12 months
- Complete and submit an application packet
- Computer Literate
- Pass a DOJ and FBI background check
Not Able to Join Our Field Ombudsman Program? Become an Auxiliary Ombudsman
Field advocacy is a vital part of our program, but working directly in facilities is not for everyone. If you want to support the work of Empowered Aging, but aren’t able to commit to becoming a Field Ombudsman consider joining our OmbudsAuxiliary where you may be asked to work on the following board service related programs/tasks:
- Office Assistance
- Advisory Council
- Community Education
Elder Justice League – Solano County
Join our Elder Justice League and learn how you can help combat the abuse of vulnerable seniors and disabled adults in Solano County. We’re looking to organize groups in churches, senior communities, adult programs and more to offer education about abuse, as well as peer-to-peer counseling.
If you are interested in starting a group or joining one, please contact info@empoweredaging.org.
