More long-term care ombudsmen needed

Editor,

October 2-8, 2005 was National Long-term Care Residents' Rights Week, a time to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices many long-term care residents have made to better our community.

This year's theme "Together we Can . . . Achieve Resident-Directed Care" emphasizes the fundamental rights of all long-term care residents to be treated with dignity and respect and to have a say in decisions affecting their care.

These rights include freedom of choice, the right to participate in community activities, and the right to have input in their daily schedule.

I thank the Lake County Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Joyce Schmitz, from Area VI Agency on Aging, who works daily to promote residents' rights, assist residents with complaints, and provide information to those who need to find a long-term care facility.

She faithfully advocates for improved quality of care and quality of life for long-term care residents.

Lake County has three nursing home facilities with a total of 208 beds. For more information about the ombudsman program, call 1-800-551-3191.I encourage community members to visit someone they know in a long-term facility this month.

Your attention helps to ensure that the voices of long-term care residents do not go unheard and demonstrates to residents that they have not been forgotten.

Sherry Benner

Region V Ombudsman