Urgent need for advocates for long-term care residents in NW Washington counties

||| FROM KRISTIN HYDE for LONG TERM CARE OMBUDS |||

An estimated 4,000 Washingtonians live in 103 long-term care homes in Northwest Washington, including nursing homes, assisted living and adult family homes. Many residents don’t have frequent visits from family or friends who can ensure their rights are respected and that they are receiving the quality care they deserve.

In Washington, trained, certified, Long-Term Care Ombuds representatives visit long-term care facilities, monitor conditions and care, and provide a voice for those who are often unable to speak for themselves or are fearful of retaliation should they complain. But the program is experiencing a serious shortage of volunteers and is appealing to community members in Whatcom, Skagit and other Northwestern counties to apply to become a volunteer advocate for the well-being and safety of long-term care residents in their communities.

Laura Chouinard, Regional Ombudsman for Northwest Washington counties, shared: “Our work is challenging, and incredibly rewarding too. But when we don’t have enough volunteers, it’s residents who suffer the most. Our volunteers are absolutely essential to our ability to advocate for residents’ rights.”

Common issues long-term care residents face include unwanted discharge or eviction, poor quality care or even physical abuse, poor response time to request for support, food and nutrition issues, and medication management.

One of the top reasons people volunteer is to find “community,” building friendships and connections with like-minded people. Long-term care Ombudsman program volunteers meet with each other once a month and at special training and appreciation events.

Long-Term Care Ombuds Trisha Hochreiter of Sedro Woolley shared her experience as a volunteer: “This program is incredible. I am still working my regular job full time, but I still have time to visit the ten homes in my area, being the ears, eyes, and nose that helps gather information about the well-being of residents. It’s rewarding to be able to listen to people and come up with creative ways to help solve the problems they face, keeping issues from escalating. From supporting a former resident in getting her dog back when she recovered from an injury and was able to move back into her home to coming up with ideas like getting a white noise machine to help a resident cope with a noisy next door neighbor in her facility, volunteer long-term care advocates are able to make a big difference for residents.”

Elizabeth Moore’s sister is a long-term care resident. Says Moore: “My sister became the victim of a tragic head-on collision when she was just 19 years old. Forty years later, she remains severely debilitated. My brothers and I have advocated for Paula since our parents became unable to care for her. We have now overseen Paula’s residential care for seventeen years. Last year, after my sister recovered from an injurious fall and was ready to be released from rehab, the facility where she had been living for nearly 10 years issued her, through me, a notice of immediate discharge. Read “eviction.” Paula was left in rehab, barred from her home, for months. The regional Ombudsman urged me to seek assistance from the Northwest Justice Project, who contracted an attorney to help me navigate the challenges. It took three months for us to win our appeal, and forty additional days to get Paula reinstated in her rightful residence. Most residents don’t have fierce family advocates living nearby; that’s why the work of the Ombudsman program is so important. I would encourage anyone who desires to help our vulnerable neighbors, family and friends in long-term care to consider becoming a volunteer long-term care Ombuds representative. Residents like my sister deserve to have their rights respected, and they need advocates to help them solve the many problems they experience – whether they have involved family members helping them or not. 

The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a proven, cost-effective program that improves the quality of life and care for people living in long-term care facilities. By addressing issues before they escalate, ombudsman efforts:

• Lead to fewer unnecessary hospitalizations, ultimately lowering health care costs

• Reduce burden on the regulatory system

• Identify early signs of abuse and neglect and intervene to protect older adults from further harm; and,

• Improve resident satisfaction with their long-term care services.. 

Long-term care Ombuds help address and resolve issues including poor care, unanswered requests for help, improper eviction and not being treated with dignity and respect. 

Community members interested in learning about the training and responsibilities involved with becoming a long-term care Ombudsman can contact Laura Choinard at 253-354-6255, laura.chouinard@mschelps.org or visit https://www.waombudsman.org/support-us/volunteer/