Ombudsman Volunteers:  

There are 4 nursing homes and 10 personal care homes in Clearfield County with over 1300 residents, many of whom have no regular contact with members of the community.   

Volunteer Ombudsmen serve as vital links between residents, staff, family and community by visiting residents on a regular basis, listening to the residents concerns and problems, encouraging residents and even empowering some to resolve their own problems.  Volunteer Ombudsmen also act as advocates for residents unwilling or unable to speak for themselves, support rights of residents, privacy and confidentiality, and report observations to the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc.  By maintaining a regular presence in facilities, the Volunteer Ombudsmen create an atmosphere of trust, one resident at a time.

Volunteer Ombudsmen can choose to work one to four hours per month to visit facilities and interact with residents, administrators, and staff.  Volunteer Ombudsmen are expected to attend local quarterly meetings, where they receive updates on administrative matters and discuss recent cases with other ombudsmen.  From time to time, Volunteer Ombudsmen may be invited to attend regional meetings and/or the annual enrichment training.

Volunteer Ombudsmen must:

• Be age 18 or older.

• Have reliable transportation.

• Possess good listening and communication skills, including communicating with impaired individuals.

• Possess empathy for and understanding of residents.

• Be open-minded and non-judgmental.

• Have good observation skills.

It is highly desirable that the Volunteer Ombudsman be computer-literate and familiar with email and the Internet.

Volunteer Information Request Form