Area Agency on Aging seeks more volunteer ombudsmen
The Butler County Area Agency on Aging is looking for help in serving the county's 28,000 senior citizens, but it's looking for a specific set of skills in potential volunteers.
Brittany Buzzelli, the community outreach coordinator and volunteer coordinator at the agency, said it needs people to become long-term care ombudsmen.
“These are people who would go to one of the 43 facilities, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes, once a month and meet with the residents,” said Buzzelli. “They would make sure of the residents' quality of life and that the residents are treated with dignity. They would act as advocates for individuals in facilities.”
Unfortunately, it's a lengthy training process to get a volunteer certified as an ombudsman, she said.
“It takes six months,” Buzzelli said. “It's a major barrier. People volunteer and then realize how in-depth the training is. It's difficult for people to maintain the training.”
Right now, she added, the agency has four certified long-term ombudsmen, half of them retired nurses. The agency wants an ombudsman to visit each facility in the county at least once a month. And in recognition of April being National Volunteer Month, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging has launched a new online volunteer sign-up form for recruiting volunteers.
With more than three million individuals age 60 and over in the state, a thriving volunteer network is essential for the delivery of aging services.
“I sincerely encourage anyone with interest in volunteering to fill out this new Web form,” said Acting Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. “If volunteering isn't something you are currently able to commit time to, please share the sign-up form with anyone you know who may be interested in serving the senior population.”
“There's a need for volunteers throughout the Commonwealth, with some areas needing more than others. Area Agencies on Aging do a great job recruiting volunteers at the local level and the Department of Aging is working to supplement their efforts by passing on potential volunteers who may not have reached out to the AAA directly.” said Rachel Wrigley, deputy director of communications for the state Department of Aging.
There are many opportunities statewide for volunteers through Pennsylvania's 52 Area Agencies on Aging.
After the department receives completed volunteer sign-up forms, it allocates them to the appropriate AAA. If there is no need in a given county, the department will work with neighboring counties to place volunteers who've indicated they are willing to travel.
But Buzzelli said other than potential ombudsman candidates, her agency is turning volunteers away.
“For the APPRISE Medicare Insurance counseling, I have too many volunteers and I'm not taking anymore on,” she said.
People looking to help out at any of the county's eight senior centers should contact the centers directly, she added.
Wrigley said, “The needs of each county are as diverse as the people who live in them. While Butler AAA may need ombudsmen, another county may need APPRISE or meal delivery volunteers.”
Wrigley said people can learn more about volunteer opportunities with the state Department of Aging or complete a sign-up form at https://www.aging.pa.gov/Pages/Volunteer.aspx.
Contact the Agency on Aging at 724-282-3008 for inquiries about its services.If you know an older adult who may be abused or neglected or you are concerned about their well-being, contact the agency's 24/7 protective services hotline at 724-283-6955.
