Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
serving Chemung, Schuyler and Tompkins Counties
What does a Long Term Care Ombudsman volunteer do?
Ombudsmen regularly visit a nursing home or adult home and help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life.
…And what if there is a problem?
The ombudsman will help a resident improve his or her quality of daily life by providing information or by advocating on the resident’s behalf to solve a problem that the resident has not been able to resolve on their own.
How are volunteers trained to do this work?
Long Term Care Ombudsmen are NYS certified. The local county program coordinator and staff of the Office of the New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman will provide the necessary certification training as well as on-going training and support.
How much time is required?
Volunteers are asked to dedicate about 2 hours per week for visits and necessary follow-up, documentation of activities, and a monthly meeting or in-service training.
How do I find out more about the program or sign up?
LTCOP Region 12 Volunteer Application
Volunteers for LTCOP must be 21 years of age or older.
For more information contact: Kate Lyon, LTCOP Coordinator, 607-274-5437 or klyon@tompkins-co.org
Visit the program web site at www.ltcombudsman.ny.gov/
Project CARE and Project Generations--a friendly visiting program
The Tompkins County Office for the Aging has a friendly visiting program called Project CARE. This program is comprised of volunteers who live within the community and provide in-home contacts and friendly visits to older adults.
Volunteers with Project CARE are asked to give 1-2 hours a week of their time to visiting an older adult. An Aging Services Specialist at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging screens both volunteers and older adults to ensure the experience will be beneficial to everyone.
Today, this vibrant program also includes a college-based volunteer experience. Students from Ithaca College and Cornell University are matched with area older adults to provide in-home contact and friendly visits. The partnership between college students and older adults is called Project Generations.
Click here to learn what people are saying about their volunteer experience. Contributing time as a volunteer can be a rich and personally rewarding experience.
If you are interested in volunteering or you know someone who would like a visit from one of our volunteers please contact:
Dawn Sprague, Aging Services Specialist, 607-274-5499 or dsprague@tompkins-co.org
Other types of volunteer experiences--which one is right for you?
- Snow shoveling and Yard work; The Tompkins County Office for the Aging maintains a listing of people who are willing to do yard work and/or snow shoveling for older adults on either a paid or volunteer basis. Contact our office for more details. (607) 274-5482
Contact the Tompkins County Office for the Aging to find a volunteer opportunity to match your skills and interests.
Whether you are looking for a seasonal, one time, or consistent volunteer experience, Lifelong's Volunteers Connected is a listing of nonprofits in our community who are looking for volunteers.