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89 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, August 2, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 1, 2004 New ombudsmen will check in on senior care By JACI SCHNEIDER Mail Tribune Rogue Valley seniors living in long-term care have a few more advocates with the appointment of two volunteer ombudsmen. They will check in on residents and the places they live to make sure they’re being cared for properly. It’s a job that might otherwise be done by family members, but many care-home residents have no one left to check on them. Medford resident Susan Miller didn’t know what an ombudsman was a few years ago. Now she’s certified. The Oregon Long-Term Care Office named Miller and Jack Patterson, also of Medford, as certified ombudsmen two weeks ago. The two join four other Jackson County volunteers who periodically check on residents of assisted living facilities, nursing homes, residential care homes and adult foster care homes. Advertisement Patterson said their job is to be a "problem solver." "We check up on people and make sure they’re being treated well," said Patterson, who decided to "give something back" after five years of retirement from the Medford school system. "As our population ages, there’s going to be more and more people who need our assistance." Miller, who recently retired from working in a children’s welfare office, shares Patterson’s sentiments. "My mother-in-law had been in and out of different facilities," she said. "They had done such a great job of taking care of her, that I wanted to give something back." Miller said that even if a facility is wonderful, the residents still like to talk to someone from the outside. "They feel more secure, even though the facility may be fine," she said. Both Patterson and Miller mentioned that many elderly people have outlived their family and friends, or their family doesn’t live in the area. "A lot of them don’t have any type of support system," Patterson added. "And the state doesn’t always have the time or money." If ombudsmen hear complaints that can’t be easily resolved, they file a report and do an investigation for the state, said Kathy Walter, program administrator for the Office of Long-Term Care in Salem. Complaints come in all sorts, varying from food quality, response time to call lights, medication distribution and issues of patient dignity, Walter said. Patterson said some issues are simple and some very complex. "Sometimes they might just tell you that their family doesn’t visit them enough," he said. Miller said they won’t talk to everyone in the facilities. "A lot of people don’t have any problems," she said. "There’s a lot of fine facilities out there and a lot of really caring people." The ombudsmen leave residents with business cards and hang posters in the facilities to let everyone know that someone is available to help if needed. "Of all the facilities that I’ve been in so far, I’ve been impressed," Patterson said. The two new ombudsmen went through five days of training over three weeks and took a test earlier this summer. Patterson and Miller will both serve at least 10 hours a month at five adult foster care homes and the Medford Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Reach reporter Jaci Schneider at 776-4471. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times