{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F7ef702c0-489f-4d4f-8e09-6e29163dc108","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"036. The Role of the Ombudsman in Advocating for Seniors' Care","description":"If you\u2019re a senior or family of a senior with questions or concerns about your nursing home or assisted living facility, a great resource to use is an ombudsman. This is a mediator position that help residents free of charge in nursing homes and assisted living throughout the U.S. They protect residents\u2019 safety, welfare, and health and make sure facilities are following regulations and held accountable. As you might guess, this is a huge relief for families of residents!Yuri Martinez is an ombudsman in Tarrant County, Texas, and has advocated for senior residents for 12 years. She explains the ins and outs of her job, what the most common calls are for her service, and how they help seniors. Plus, she details how to become a volunteer if this speaks to your heart.Topics discussed:- What is an ombudsman-\u00a0Settling disputes for seniors-\u00a0Acting as an intermediary between facilities and seniors-\u00a0How to become an ombudsman-The Older Americans Act-\u00a0Nursing homes / assisted living facilitiesTakeaways from this episode:-\u00a0Rather than fixing problems, an ombudsman coordinates conflicts and holds all parties involved accountable - that they\u2019re following standards and ensuring that the resident is getting proper care and services.-\u00a0They observe conditions in senior environments, searching for signs of lack of care, neglect, fall risks, and more.-\u00a0An ombudsman receives calls mostly about involuntary discharges or no longer being allowed in a senior living facility. This would then involve helping all parties understand proper procedures, reversing the discharge or starting appeals.-\u00a0Anyone in the U.S. can find an ombudsman by going online and searching by county. Facilities are also required to provide that information in an open, accessible area.-\u00a0To become an ombudsman, you must have a genuine interest in helping residents, be 18 or older, have reliable transportation, pass a background check, and complete 36-hour training.Resources mentioned in this episode:Tarrant County LTC Ombudsman Program:https://www.unitedwaytarrant.org/ombudsman/\u00a0United Way of Tarrant County1500 N Main, Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76164Office: (817) 258-8104 National Ombudsman Resource Center:https://ltcombudsman.org/Yuri Martinez, MSSWhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yuri-martinez-78a0a9139/To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email Lori@Loriwilliams-seniorservices.com For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/1bfacc2a-972c-48e6-8bca-6af5306c63dc/23108943afb058f2fcf9e7824ffc27b8-square-big.jpg"}