City of Alexandria Seeks Volunteers for
Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking persons who are diplomatic, assertive, and good communicators to serve as volunteer ombudsmen. Volunteers are assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in the City of Alexandria and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. Using the skills of listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman will work with the residents, their families and facility staff to ensure that the residents’ rights are being protected. The ombudsman empowers residents and their families to speak up on their own behalf and to address problems within the facility that they cannot resolve alone.
 
Applicants must be available to volunteer four hours per week, primarily during regular business hours, and cannot be currently employed by a long-term care facility. Applicant interviews will be held this summer in preparation for the next annual training, scheduled for Sept. 15, 16, and 26, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The initial training will address topics such as the Residents’ Bill of Rights, communicating with people with physical or mental impairments, long-term care facility personnel and operation, and handling complaints. Professional ombudsman staff provide periodic in-service training and support thereafter.

The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a public service, funded in part by the City of Alexandria’s Area Agency on Aging. It was established to investigate complaints made about community-based, long-term care services. For further information and to obtain an application, call 703.324.5422, TTY 703.449.1186, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.

# # #