October is Residents’ Rights Month, which focuses on finding volunteer ombudsmen, who educate residents, families and long-term care staff on residents’ rights.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota’s Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care had 33 certified ombudsman volunteers statewide. But by the fall of 2022, there are only 14 volunteer ombudsmen serving nearly 2,500 nursing care and assisted living facilities across Minnesota.

Addressing the ombudsman volunteer shortage is one focus of Residents’ Rights Month. There are currently 14 regions in the state without any certified ombudsmen.

“Just as nursing homes are struggling to recruit and retain staff, we face the same challenge with volunteers,” said Cheryl Hennen, long-term care ombudsman for Minnesota. “Volunteers are a critical part of our team, advocating for people living in long-term care facilities to enhance their quality of life and services.”

The volunteers are assigned to paid regional ombudsmen staff to ensure the health, safety and rights of long-term care consumers.

Ombudsman volunteers are needed all over Minnesota. In addtion to Brown Counties, there are more than 20 other counties with critical volunteer needs.

If you are interested in becoming a certified ombudsman volunteer, visit mn.gov/ooltc/volunteerwithus for more information.

Residents’ Rights Month in Minnesota connects with the national recognition effort. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Unity within Our Community,” which joins the ideas of community within a facility and encourages residents to be connected to their local communities.

To contact the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care with any residents’ rights concerns, visit mn.gov/ooltc/contactus. More information on the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care is at mn.gov/ooltc.