Volunteer!

Become a Long Term Care Ombudsman Volunteer!

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program helps residents assert their civil and human rights. The Ombudsman Program seeks volunteers to visit long term care facilities in their communities to empower and help residents resolve complaints.

Complaints can range from cold food or a missing sweater, to more serious issues such as the residents’ right to decline medical treatment or abuse. Volunteers must complete a training course established by the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman and attend on–going in–service training.

Volunteer ombudsmen increase residents' awareness of the program and how to use it. They increase community awareness and contribute various skills such as bilingual assistance and sign language.

Residents better acquaint themselves with and trust volunteer ombudsmen who are frequent visitors to the facility. Ombudsmen volunteers must have skills in communication, problem solving, empathy and good judgement.

Download the brochure, Become a Long-Term Care Volunteer Ombudsman (PDF, 86 KB) that explains what an ombudsman is and how volunteer.

Contact

To become a volunteer or for more information, contact...

• your local Long Term Care Sub-State Ombudsman, listed in the Directory of Agencies and Organizations Serving Seniors; or



• the Senior HelpLine.

For more information on the Pioneer Approach to Long Term Care and the Illinois Long Term Care Ombudsman program, see also:

• Publications related to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
  
  
• Other Web sites related to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Return to Long Term Care Ombudsman Program page.