Agency Details:

Board On Aging And Long Term Care

In pursuit of its mission, the Board promotes
improvement of conditions in long-term
care. The Board serves the individual;
monitors the development, implementation
and outcome of long-term care policy;
makes recommendations, stimulates public
interest and provides education regarding
universal issues affecting long-term care.

Description:
Make a Difference…Be A Volunteer Ombudsman

Advocates are WANTED and NEEDED in nursing homes! You can be a qualified representative of the Board On Aging & Long Term Care as a Volunteer Ombudsman. Make a difference in the lives of people living in area nursing homes.

The Volunteer Ombudsman Program currently operates in Dane, Rock, Milwaukee, Monroe, Racine, Kenosha, Marathon, Portage, Wood, Waupaca, and Shawano counties.

Qualified volunteers are recruited from people like you in our communities. Volunteers are willing to: give of their time to make a difference
attend mandatory 6 hour training
make unannounced weekly visits to assigned facility
provide their own transportation
spend 2-3 hours at a time between 8:00 AM –8:00 PM
give a 6 month minimum commitment
undergo a criminal background check, at our agency's expense

History:
The Board on Aging and Long Term Care is an advocate for long-term care consumers in Wisconsin. Created by the Legislature in 1981 this seven-member citizen board of directors advises the Governor and Legislature on long-term care policy. Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

The Board assumed the functions of the former Governor’s Nursing Home Ombudsman Program in 1982. Services were quickly expanded to assist residents in group homes (CBRFs) and recipients of the Community Options Program (COP) in addition to nursing home residents. The consumer is the program’s primary customer.

A volunteer component of the Ombudsman Program was added in 1994 to augment the efforts of regional staff. The agency has asked the Governor and Legislature for funds to expand the program to other parts of the state in 2001.

In 1984 the Board determined the need for insurance counseling and developed the Medigap Helpline. The program offers expertise in every type of insurance product that might be marketed to Medicare beneficiaries.

Contact person: Duane Mireles, Volunteer Manager, (414) 227-4057, (email)

Address:

819 N. 6th Street Room 520 Milwaukee , WI 53203 (See a map)

Web Site: http://longtermcare.state.wi.us/home/

Directions:

This location is the State Office Building located in Milwaukee. The volunteer locations are in Racine.

Last updated on August 19, 2009