Volunteers needed to assist elderly

The Deep East Texas Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Program is currently recruiting for volunteer ombudsmen.

Volunteer ombudsmen help residents and their families of nursing homes or long-term care facilities to resolve complaints or provide information and other assistance. They also visit the residents weekly at their facilities.

Some of the functions of volunteer ombudsmen are:

• Identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents;

• provide information to residents about long-term care services and their rights;

• and advocate for changes to improve residents' quality of life and care.

Training comes from a 36-hour professional training in an area relating to long-term care and the role of the volunteer ombudsman, and a 12-hour of continual education training quarterly.

For more information contact the managing local ombudsman, Charlotte McGalin, at (800)-256-6848, ext. 229.