KING COUNTY OMBUDS NEWS

Transcription

1 KING CNTY MBDS NEWS King County Long-term Care mbuds Newsletter June 2015 Greetings mbuds, Colleagues, and Friends: It has been several years since the King County mbuds Program has published a newsletter...mbuds have asked and repeatedly embraced the idea of a newsletter resurrection. We finally have a first edition thanks to the persistence (dare I say nagging) of your Volunteer Coordinator, Juanita Beale. We would like very much to make this a publication that speaks to what our mbuds want, so would like to invite you to write to the Editor with suggestions. A special address, ombudseditor@mschelps.org will allow you to make comments (positive and negative) or ask questions. ur plan is to get this newsletter out at least bimonthly. We would love to publish articles, perspectives, and your good ideas, so start those wheels working Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another. ~Erma Bombeck In This Issue Vicki s Message Lexor s article Cynthia s Article Calendar for June & Save the Date List BRAV awards Welcome New Volunteers! Welcome the Seattle class of new volunteers! Jim Susan, Brian, Vicki Elting, Ann, Sandy, Tom & Anne

2 Save the Cynthia Stevenson AG Grant Developer and Educator Thank you Cynthia for all of your hard work and dedication! Recently, Cynthia developed the AG Reduce the Misuse campaign project for our program here. In her honest and thoughtful words, she believes that mbuds watching for mistreated residents with dementia by the misuse of antipsychotics is one of the most valuable actions of advocacy that we can give our vulnerable adults. Way to go Cynthia! In addition to her efforts with her most recent campaign, Cynthia also created the easy to read brochure we use often to provide training to our staff and mbuds throughout the state of Washington. Incredible! In her life away from the office, Cynthia dedicates her time to many junior high students as a behavioral interventionist. Cynthia uses her swift wit and innovative ideas to help students to discover themselves and make life changing choices for their futures. Keep up the great Work Cynthia!

3 S T H K I N G C N T Y M B D S From the desk of Lexor Green: Hi All of My Fellow mbuds: For many of us old news but for some new news. Joanne Chan is working as a staff mbuds and doing well. Also, to cheer us all up who are aging, I was looking at the morning news and Mary Bridge hospital in Tacoma was celebrating one of their best nurse who was turning 100 years and is healthy in both mind & body. And still working. Which reminded me of the statistics that normal aging is not sickness and disease and only 5% of the senior population reside in facilities. June is Alzheimer s & Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer's disease is the only one of the top 10 causes of death in the nited States that cannot be prevented, treated or even slowed. The greatest risk factors age, genes and family history are beyond our control, but brain-healthy lifestyle choices may lower the risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

4 Welcome! Seattle Class New mbuds: Jim, Brian, Sandra, Susan, Ann, Anne, and Tom! Joanne Chan, previous Federal Way volunteer, has joined the staff as the program s Administrative mbud. Joanne, and Staff mbud, Sam Hopkins, did presentations for the Seattle & Bellevue May certification classes. Bravo! Thank a Volunteer or Staff person Thank you to Jill, Linda, and Paul for assisting staff and Advisory Board members, Marsha & Julia, interviewing prospective applicants for the May 2015 certification classes. Your participation was appreciated! Khadija Ali provided delicious homemade refreshments for the certification classes, and lunch or the staff in May. Thank you! Congratulations to Nancy, John, Jill, and Ken for their 16 years of volunteer service to our mbuds program! Thank you Linda, Jill, Debbie, Kelly, Toni, Chuck, Chick, and Alice for being mbud Mentors for the new volunteers for the January & June 2015 State Certification classes. Thank you! To our amazing Advisory Board Members! Thank you! Thanks John Barnett for 16 years of service as a Volunteer mbud and member of our Advisory Board,

5 June Birthdays Peggy Abernathy Karen Day Lynette Douglas Helen Runstein Ann Bodden Gaye Cosand July Birthdays Linda Beatty Chet Carroll Toni Franklin Lilliane Gervais Paul Heneghan Chick Newman Tom Taaffe

6 Welcome! Bellevue Class Graduates! John, Vita, Carol, Will, Gaye, Kathy and Mentors Jill Cline & Khadija Ali The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. -Ralph Waldo Emerson Congratulations Volunteers and Thank You! Nancy Coleman is another graduate from the 1999 Certification class. Nancy had been a primary caregiver for aging parents including assisting them thru short stays in long term care facilities. When she got the letter from AARP inviting her to respond to a need for volunteers, it was the logical stop to start as an ombudsman. Nancy shares that being retired makes her time more flexible and can arrange her visits around other things she does. She decided that after starting, she had plenty of time and energy and picked up a second facility. Working as a social worker and administrator in an institution for delinquent male adolescents, she understands the workings of institutions. Ken White graduated with Nancy and Jill in It all began for Ken when he attended a meeting at a grocery store. He met Vicki Elting and heard about becoming an mbudsman. He soon attended the training program and began helping residents. Ken likes the challenge and the variety of his advocacy work with residents. Jill Cline completed her certification training in She was asked about her first impression of the program: "what a great program. We are the only people many of the people we serve ever see outside of caregivers and other providers. To be able to help people through even a small problem is rewarding." Jill shared that before she became on ombudsman, she went through several years of her husband's Alzheimer's journey. She learned that in order to take the best care of him, she needed to care of herself. She is careful to maintain a healthy balance. When she goes on vacation for a week, she works twice as hard the following weeks. Jill had a wonderful neighbor who was in her 90's when her niece decided she needed assisted living. It was a disaster and she was asked to leave after she wandered off one night. ntil she moved, she had been fine, but it was traumatic for her and then she got moved to a lock-up memory care unit. Jill said she was furious at the lack of personal interaction and her downhill slide. When the "postcard" regarding the Long Term Care mbudsman program arrived, she couldn't wait to sign up.

7 Mileage/Activity Reports: Due by the 3rd day of every month. Volunteer Monthly Trainings: Volunteers are required to a weekly commitment of 3-4 hours in their mbuds Role. And, must attend a minimum of 9 Certified mbuds Monthly Trainings to remain certified. 1st Monday of the month Providence Mount St Vincent in the NW Room th Ave SW West Seattle pm Please RSVP to Juanitabeale@mschelps.org 3rd Monday of the month Solid Ground 1501 N. 45th St Seattle 9-11 am with Sam Hopkins 3rd Wednesday of the month Kent Senior Center 600 E Smith St 1:00-3:00 pm with Lexor Green Location of the July 15th ALL VLNTEER Refresher 4th Thursday of month Eastgate Public Health SE Eastgate Way Bellevue, 10-12pm with Rose Floyd Save the dates Here are the upcoming events for you to look forward too. Mileage/Activity Reports due by the 3rd day of the month. Volunteer Monthly Trainings 1st Monday 3rd Monday 3rd Wednesday 4th Thursday July 15th All Vol Refresher September Sail and Lunch June 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat ombudseditor@mschelps.org

8 Questions / Answers ombudseditor@mschelps.org This is your opportunity to ask questions or share information. Q. How do I get an mbuds Mentor? A. Good question. Thank you! Any volunteer may request to be signed up with an mbuds Mentor. Mentors are experienced mbuds who have generally been certified for over a year or longer. Just contact your Staff mbuds and let them know you are interested in the Mentorship program. ur goal is to have mbuds who are confident, and feel comfortable working independently. Q. How do I become an mbuds Mentor? A. Contact your Staff mbuds and let them know you are interest in the Mentorship program. LTCP Staff Contact Information T H A N K Y Fax KCLTCP@MSCHELPS.RG Help Desk Intake Line Vicki Elting / Vickie@mschelps.org Rose Floyd / Rosef@mschelps.org Lexor Green / Lexorg@mschelps.org Sam Hopkins / Sammih@mschelps.org Joanne Chan / Joannec@mschelps.org Juanita Beale / Juanitab@mschelps.org Tell us what you think: M B D S E D I T M S C H E L P S. R MBDSEDITR@MSCHELPS.RG