COEDD slates two-day session for ombudsmen

The Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD) Area Agency on Aging will conduct a two-day training session for prospective ombudsmen volunteers Oct. 15. The session will be 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the COEDD Area Agency on Aging office, 400 N. Bell in Shawnee. The training is open to all interested and will cover the role and responsibilities of the ombudsman volunteer. Other topics to be discussed include the aging process; institutionalized elderly; building communication skills; the role of government in the nursing home industry; information gathering; mediation; negotiation; and complaint resolution techniques. The ombudsman program serves residents in Oklahoma’s nursing homes, assisted living centers and residential care facilities and assists in the quality of life and quality of care available to those residents. The be a volunteer ombudsman, an individual must: • Have a concern for older people and their needs and be able to see each one as an individual; • Be able to work with many types of people without being judgemental; • Be responsible and willing to follow problems through to resolution; and • Be able to accept training and supervision and be able to spend at least two hours per week visiting the residents. The training is free and open to all interested. Those who would like to become volunteers or have questions about the program may call Tonya VanScoyoc or Cynthia Lincoln, ombudsman supervisors, at 1-800-375-8255, extension 127 or 133.