The Ombudsman Program is the patient advocate at these facilities and has an important role in caring and keeping a voice with many who can’t care for themselves.
These facilities are typically Skilled Nursing Facilities & Convalescent Homes. Many are privately owned, “For profit” and for our elderly. These facilities are licensed by county public health departments. So these facilities
Story – I became familiar with a particular facility by accident. While working uniformed police patrol, we were sent to hundreds of calls to this facility every month. Most, I would say 90% of these calls were frivolous and didn’t amount to a whole lot. Some of the calls were for persons that walked away from the facility. A lot of the patients or clients, if you will were unable to care for themselves. Many of the calls came hours after they were discovered missing. As you would imagine, we had to throw a lot of resources to find these persons. Helicopters, search and rescue teams, dozens of patrol and motorcycle units were sent to these calls. This didn’t happen once or twice, this because a regular occurrence.
One of my tasks of job while working in the community policing unit or COPPS was to reduce calls for service or at least look into them. This particular facility was sucking our resources and keeping our patrol officers on the street where they can be proactive.
So I asked around and was told this is an easy fix. Just call the licensing agency and let them know how prolific this is at the particular facility. I was told there isnt any thing they can do because there isn’t enough “Locked” facilities to house the clients.
That answer wasn’t good enough form me. One of my coworkers had a friend who worked in the Ombudsman office. I asked what the heck is that? I had never heard of an um-buds-man. In simplicity, as it relates to long term health care, the ombudsman is the patient advocate. A person that can help a resident or client with their needs. Keeps this in mind when you have a loved one in one of these facilitIes.
There have been quite a few life long golden “Nuggets” that have come my way while working as a police officer. This is one of them. One that I can talk about whenever I am speaking about these types of facilities.
I have lots of these “Nuggets” and would love to share them with you or your group. Send me a message by clicking here or call me at (480) 818-3527.