Ombudsman Program in New York

An ombudsman is an official institution, usually represented by one person who is appointed by the government or by the parliament to act in the name of the public. Basically, the ombudsman reads complaints made by active citizens, is addressing them and then investigating them. The term 'ombudsman' is rooted in the Old Norse word that means 'representative'. So, this name is given to the person that represents the public.

In New York, and all over the world for that matter, there are a lot of ombudsman organizations and foundations that are specialized in making sure that the public’s grievances are heard. For example, the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens has Program that is designed to enhance the lives of people living in New York nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In this case, the role of the ombudsman is to make sure that all the resident’s rights are respected and taken care of in those facilities. For example, people living in nursing homes have a right to safety, health treatments and general welfare.

People interested in helping people in nursing homes can register as an Ombudsman Volunteer. All they have to do is complete 36 hours of intensive training. Volunteering for such a position is an important civic duty. People will have the opportunity to get involved in helping seniors who can no longer take care of themselves. This Volunteer program is funded through the New York Department for the Aging. Volunteers will have the chance to make a difference in people’s lives.

This Ombudsman Program is basically an intermediary which is helping seniors who don’t have a home to make valid requests to the larger institution of Ombudsman. This process is very useful since seniors who live in nursing homes don’t have a strong voice in the official American institutions.