Certified Ombudsman Volunteer (COV)

Make a difference in the lives of those living in Long-Term Care Facilities. The Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care is program of the Minnesota Board on Aging. Regional Ombudsman and Volunteers work to enhance the quality of life and care for people receiving long-term care services and supports throughout MN. They have a passion for helping others and making a positive impact on the lives of those living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. What does a Certified Ombudsman Volunteer (COV) do? Provides regular visits in long-term care facilities and builds strong relationships with residents Volunteers work with paid regional ombudsmen staff to ensure the health, safety and rights of long-term care customers. Supports complaint investigations and assists residents in resolving concerns Provide education about resident rights and person-centered principles Advocate for changes to improve residents’ quality of life and care Educate and inform residents, family members and care providers about the Ombudsman program Attends resident and family council meetings Assist with addressing improper transfer and/or discharge of residents Would you like to enhance the lives of residents living in long-term care through advocacy, education and empowerment? If you said yes, the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care invites you to join us in making a difference, by becoming a Certified Ombudsman Volunteer (COV). As a volunteer you will give only six hours a month, visiting with residents and building a trusting relationship. In your role as COV, you may receive complaints from residents, their friends, or relatives. You will work to resolve those complaints with the support of a Regional Ombudsman. The purpose of the program is to promote and protect resident’s rights and to assist in empowering residents to become self-advocates. When deciding on whether you want to volunteer, remember that more than half of residents in the nursing homes do not receive any visitors, some may get a visitor once a year or once a month. There is no question as to whether residents enjoy visits from people within their community, in fact, they truly love it. Note -this is not a virtual opportunity. It is an in-person volunteer position in areas of MN. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, contact Marie Kessler at marie.l.kessler@state.mn.us or 651-890-6308.