2015 Trainings & Conference Calls/Webinars

Supporting Volunteer LTC Ombudsmen and Minimizing Risk
During this webinar we discuss how risk management applies to every aspect of managing and supporting volunteer long-term care ombudsmen. Presenters provide tips for screening volunteers, identifying and removing risk, and responding to situations when the actions, or inaction, of a volunteer LTCO negatively impacts your program. 

Presenters: Sarah Hinzman, Volunteer Ombudsman Program & Americorps VISTA Project Coordinator, IA LTCOP; Darlene Cray, Volunteer Program Coordinator, NH LTCOP; and Amity Overall-Laib, Manager, LTCO Program & Policy, NORC

• Amity Overall-Laib Slides

  • PPT - with speaker notes
  • PDF

• Sarah Hinzman Slides and Materials

  • Slides
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Application
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Complaint Form
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Program Fact Sheet
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Program Manual
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Interview Form
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Phone Interview Script
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Certification Process Checklist
  • Volunteer Ombudsman Agreement

• Darlene Cray

  • Slides

Additional Resources (shared during webinar)

• Maryland LTCOP: Quality Advocacy Visits: Guidance to Maryland Ombudsman Staff and Volunteers (tip sheet)
• Massachusetts LTCOP: Appropriate or Not? (worksheet)
• Texas LTCOP: Walking the Fine Line PPT

Identifying, Preventing, and Responding to Bullying in Long-Term Care Facilities

This webinar discusses bullying among residents in long-term care facilities. Dr. Robin Bonifas, John A. Hartford Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work, Associate Professor with the School of Social Work at Arizona State University shared findings from her recent work regarding bullying in long-term care facilities, including:

• A definition of bullying and characteristics of residents that bully and residents that are targets of bullying
• Signs and prevalence of bullying
• Examples of interventions and best practices to prevent and respond to these incidents

NORC staff reviewed the LTCO role in responding to complaints regarding bullying, highlights advocacy tips, and shares resources regarding resident-to-resident aggression.  

Click here to access the PowerPoint Slides.

Additional Information:

• Brochure for Consumers on Resident-to-Resident Mistreatment
  •    Brochure
  •    Large Font Fact Sheet
• Responding to Allegations of Abuse: Role and Responsibilities of Long-Term Care Ombudsmen
• NORC Elder Abuse/Elder Justice Issue Page
• Dr. Robin Bonifas' Six Part Senior Bullying Blog Series

Advance Care Planning for Residents - Role and Responsibilities of Long-Term Care Ombudsmen

Planning in advance about care you would want to receive, or not, if you become unable to speak for yourself gives a person the ability to direct that their values and preferences are taken into account. Advance Care Planning often includes such things as:

• Identifying a surrogate decision-maker
• Discussing with loved ones individual choices and preferences in the event of a life-threatening illness or injury
• Completing Advance Directive forms such as a Durable Power of Attorney or health care directive

This webinar discusses how long-term care ombudsmen can best support a resident who wants to do advance care planning, or for those residents whose wishes are not being respected by the facility, family, or friends, as well as what resources are available for information sharing and advocacy.  Speakers included Charles Sabatino, Director, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging; and Maria Greene, NORC Consultant.

Click here to view the full PowerPoint Presentation.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Final Rule
This webinar was presented by Becky Kurtz, Director, Office of LTCO Programs with AoA of ACL, with an introduction from Kathy Greenlee, Administrator, Administration for Community Living; Assistant Secretary, Administration on Aging.

The webinar provided an opportunity to review sections of the rule including:

• Responsibilities of key figures in the system, including the Ombudsman and representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman;
• Responsibilities of the entities in which LTC Ombudsman programs are housed;
• Criteria for establishing consistent, person-centered approaches to resolving complaints on behalf of residents;
• Appropriate role of LTC Ombudsman programs in resolving abuse complaints; and
• Conflicts of interest: processes for identifying and remedying conflicts so that residents have access to effective, credible ombudsman services

Click on the links below for the webinar slides and recording:

• Slides
• Recording
• Final Rule: 45 CFR Parts 1321 and 1327 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs

Involuntary Transfer and Discharge from Nursing Homes: Prevention, Advocacy, and Appeals
The webinar discussed strategies and best practices for preventing and advocating for residents facing involuntary discharge from a nursing home, and considered how those strategies, best practices change/stay the same if the resident is in assisted living. The presenters also reviewd best practices for supporting residents and families, identifying legal support, appealing discharge notices, and more.

Lori Smetanka, director of the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) presented, along with Eric Carlson, Co-Directing Attorney, National Senior Citizens Law Center and Mary Ann Parker, Attorney, DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Click here to view the webinar.

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