Friday, January 13, 2012

Volunteer Advocate Program Continues to Grow

Recruitment expanded in NJ southern counties

The number of volunteers assigned to nursing homes under the OOIE Volunteer Advocate Program has increased by about 20 percent in the last year, thanks to increased marketing and outreach efforts statewide and particularly in South Jersey.

The Volunteer Advocate Program helps promote the health, safety and welfare of residents age 60 and older who live in nursing homes. Advocates help protect residents’ rights and ensure quality of care by making regular visits to a local nursing home. Volunteers must complete a 32-hour training program and shadow and existing volunteer to become a Certified Volunteer Advocate.

Today,with the number of elderly people who are living in long-term care 
Anyone over the age of 21 who is interested in volunteering can email Deirdre Mraw, Program Coordinator, at Deirdre.Mraw@advocate.state.nj.us or call 609.826.5053.
facilities continuing to increase, the need for volunteers is even more critical. According to federal data, more than three-fourths of states use volunteers to support long term care ombudsman programs.

“A volunteer advocate is the voice for those who have none, and helps to make each community a better place to live for all its residents,” said New Jersey Ombudsman James W. McCracken, who – since being named Ombudsman in December 2010, has stepped up outreach efforts in support of the volunteer program.

1 comment:

  1. There are not many tasks that our carers are not able to execute when thoughtful for the older people, however, we often cooperate with Distict nurses and other doctors to make sure that the person gets the best possible treatment.

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