Alamo and Bexar Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Behind every meaningful moment is someone who cares deeply - meet the Alamo & Bexar FB Volunteer of the Month Volunteer for May! HELEN

What led you to volunteer with the Long – Term Care Ombudsman Program?
I discovered I had enough time to help others in need, especially with companionship, advocacy, and compassion. Just as in my life, there are times when someone can fill a need, if only to listen. My caregiver role had ended and since I was already connected with AACOG, it seemed like a good transition to make especially since COVID was limiting my search for volunteer opportunities.

How long have you been a volunteer?
I have volunteered with the ombudsman program since late 2020.

Volunteer Ombudsman determine their own schedule. Is this important to you, and why?
Yes, maintaining my own schedule lets me block out time for part-time work and set appointments. More importantly, flexibility makes it possible to be available for family, friends, worthwhile causes, and self-care. From personal experience, I know that an extra set of hands can go a long way in getting a task done, so I let others know I can help and commit dates, time to help with a positive attitude.

What is your favorite experience that you have had in your long-term care community while working as an Ombudsman?
My favorite experiences are those which are reminiscent of my caregiving days for family members: my mom, my husband, and my dad. I really miss the days when they were in my life. Lending my energy to residents’ care keeps their memories foremost in my heart since I know they would receive the same voice from me in giving them a meaningful quality of life during their most vulnerable days.

What impact does your volunteer work have on residents you visit?
I can only hope that my visits come across as sincere and meaningful. I come into their space to hear their words and see their faces. All during these brief encounters I make observations beyond the sound of their voices to make sure they can trust that I am there to bring them solutions to their problems, if there are any, whether they mention them or not. I watch to find ways to help residents.

What hope do you have for long term care in the future?
I hope resident care is accessible for all those that need it. I hope government agencies stay engaged in residents’ rights to the greatest extent possible. Lastly, I hope that I can rest easily knowing the people making system changes for care facilities consider each resident deserving of resources to keep them safe and heard.

For more information about volunteering email or call Heather Armstrong, [email protected] or 210-362-5209 and let us know the zip code you reside in. Classes start again in July! Join our team and make a difference!

We had a great time on Friday celebrating our amazing volunteers! Here, we are honoring volunteers and staff for dedicating 5 years to ensuring their residents receive quality care and have quality of life. We are grateful for their compassion and love! If you would like to make a difference in your neighborhood, please reach out to us at [email protected]
Our next training session starts Monday the 27th. 🙂

A Little About Bette - our Volunteer of the Month for April!!!

What led you to volunteer with the program?
I spent 50 years as a healthcare provider, many of those years with LTC and geriatric patients in numerous settings as a Physical Therapist and a Rehabilitation Manager in SNFs. My love for the population and admiration for the Ombudsmen I worked with led me to always want to volunteer in the program.

I have been with the program for a year and a half. It is great that I can set my own schedule; the fact is I prefer to go at different times of the day and on the weekend to see the activity in the facility and interact with different shifts.

I have met so many interesting people in the community I serve, perhaps one of the most interesting is a woman who became blind suddenly due to a serious medical condition. Her anger about the situation, her reluctance to learn how to manage her situation, were challenges for both of us. Although it took awhile, we are now good friends and she is willing to entertain that maybe she could learn strategies to live a better life. A work in progress!

I am surprised at how much the visits mean to the residents. If I miss a week of being in the facility people will question what happened and make sure I am okay. It is heartwarming. Many like to make sure I know what is happening with them and their friends in the facility. They want me at all resident council meetings, which sometimes is impossible, but I try to get there.

Right now, with the political climate, I worry about the future for long term care. Funding is always a concern, and with program cuts staffing becomes an issue. I would like to think LTC programs will survive and services will improve to meet the times and needs of the population most often served.

Bette is a great part of our team, and we are happy to honor her this month! She participates in almost every training opportunity we provide and provides valuable insights! If you would like to join Bette and the rest of our Certified Volunteer Ombudsman, please join our Spring training class which start Monday April 27th at 5:30p for 8.5 weeks twice a week. Please email [email protected] or call 210-362-5209 and let us know the county you reside in.

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Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs (LTCOP) are often the first to notice the warning signs of possible financial exploitation or the first person a resident confides in regarding being a victim of financial abuse. This fact sheet includes tips, tools, and action steps to help LTCOP protect residents from financial exploitation. https://bit.ly/4rOXs8K

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We are excited to introduce you to Stephen R - our volunteer of the month for March! Whether Stephen is having fun or volunteering in his nursing home to advocate and empower his residents he is an amazing part of this team.

What led you to volunteer with the Long – Term Care Ombudsman Program?
Previously I had worked in LTC facilities as a consulting Pharmacist. The opportunity to visit and if needed advocate for the residents of a nursing home seemed like a great opportunity. The training was really thorough and stimulated my retired brain!

How long have you been a volunteer? About a year

Volunteer Ombudsman determine their own schedule. Is this important to you, and why? Extremely important, you can choose when and how long for each visit.

Describe someone interesting that you have met while working as an Ombudsman. I became good friends with Scott (HIPPA so I’ll just use his first name) a resident at the facility I visit. He was writing a book to his grand kids as per his life and their heritage. The book was full of his stories and antidotes. We went through the book and had many wonderful visits. I really looked forward to seeing him each month.

What impact does your volunteer work have on residents you visit? I can’t speak for them, but they’ve had a great impact on me! There have been a few instances where I’ve spoken to the administration (DON/ Administrator) concerning specific complaints, so there has been a tangible impact. Their experiences that they have shared with me have been wonderful.

What hope do you have for long term care in the future? That with the current atmosphere of cutbacks that we don’t forget the importance of human contact!

For more information about volunteering email or call Heather Armstrong, [email protected] or 210-362-5209 and let us know the zip code you reside in. Our Spring class begins April 27th! Join our team and make a difference!

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We are happy to introduce you to Sylvia as she makes a LOVEly addition to our team!

What hope do you have for long-term care in the future?
My hope is that long-term care continues to provide programs that help residents feel safe and supported and ensure they receive the accommodations and services they need. The Ombudsman Program is essential because we are truly the voice of the residents. We are independent and not affiliated with any facility, which allows us to advocate honestly and genuinely for residents, especially those with disabilities or cognitive challenges.

I’ve worked with residents who are unable to speak and needed translators, as well as residents who only speak Spanish. Being bilingual has been very helpful, as it allows me to communicate directly with residents and help advocate for their needs. In addition, we work with nurses, families, state agencies, and community resources to connect residents with services, funding, medical assistance, and other support they need.

Join Sylvia and our dedicated volunteers in making a difference to residents living in your community. Our next session will start April 2026. Please email [email protected] or call 210-362-5209 and let us know the zip code you reside in. Looking forward to meeting you!