Certified Ombudsman Volunteer

What does a Certified Ombudsman Volunteer (COV) do?

• Promotes the well-being and quality of life for consumers in long-term residences through regular visits
• Respond and work to resolve problems or complaints of long-term care residents
• Provide education about resident rights and person-centered principles
• Advocate for changes to improve residents’ quality of life and care
• Educate and inform consumers and the community about the Ombudsman program
• Provide technical support for the development of resident and family councils
• Assist with addressing improper transfer and/or discharge of residents

Would you like to enhance the lives of residents living in long-term care through advocacy, education and empowerment? If you said yes, the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care invites you to join us in making a difference, by becoming a Certified Ombudsman Volunteer (COV).

The Certified Ombudsman Volunteer Program is looking for volunteers to (temporarily) call residents living in long-term care facilities. When it is safe, volunteers will resume making in-person visits to residents in long-term care facilities. A COV advocates for residents to improve their quality of life and services. As a volunteer you will give only six hours a month, visiting with residents and building a trusting relationship. In your role as COV, you may receive complaints from residents, their friends, or relatives. You will work to resolve those complaints with the support of a Regional Ombudsman.

The purpose of the program is to promote and protect resident’s rights and to assist in empowering residents to become self-advocates. When deciding on whether you want to volunteer, remember that more than half of residents in the nursing homes do not receive any visitors, some may get a visitor once a year or once a month. There is no question as to whether residents enjoy visits from people within their community, in fact, they truly love it.