We are looking for caring volunteers to talk story, advocate and protect the rights of Hawaii's aging population who reside in licensed long term care nursing homes,assisted living facilities and residential care homes.The volunteers will essentially be the eyes and ears for our Kupuna. They will talk story, inform them of their rights and ensure them the quality of life they deserve.

Description:
There are currently over 8,000 of our Kupuna living in long term care settings around our state. The volunteer representative's primary role is to provide advocacy and to ensure residents of their rights and maintain their quality of life. Responsibilities include: Weekly facility visits 2-4 hrs a week,communication reports and a monthly meeting. All volunteers must be 21 or older, become certified by filling out a written application, criminal background check, TB clearance, 20 hours of classroom training and 8 hours of on-site training. Call us today for more information about our volunteer program.If you would like to complete an application click onto the EOA website below and click onto programs and services in the left hand corner. Click onto LTCOP and then click onto LTCOVP Application.Complete and press submit. After application has been processed you will receive information on the next available dates for our free training and certification class.

History:
The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program operates within the Executive Office on Aging(EOA)which is dedicated to providing programs, services, and education relating to issues concerning our aging population. The Older Americans Act(OAA)mandates that each state establish an office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman(LTCO)which is both federal and state funded. The original concept of "Ombudsman" came from Sweden. Ombudsman were to act as go-between when citizens had complaints against government.The LTCOP is a resident-centered advocacy program that is volunteer based. We recruit,train,certify and monitor caring volunteers to protect the rights of residents and maintain a good quality of life for our Kupuna who reside in long term care settings.

Contact people:

Laurie Paleka, Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) John McDermott, Long Term Care Ombudsman, (phone), (email) Anne Holton, Long Term Care Ombudsman Specialist, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (808) 586-7277

Address:

250 South Hotel Street, # 406 Honolulu, HI 96813 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www4.hawaii.gov/eoa

Directions:

Located in the Capital One Building (formerly the Hemmeter Buiolding or the Armed Forces YMCA). We are located at the corner of Richards Street and South Hotel Street across from the State Capital and the Saint Andrews Cathedral. There is. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Hotel / Richards, 5 min. minute walk