June 30, 2005
Montanans Recognized for Nursing Home Work
Fifteen people from across Montana were honored recently by the state Office on Aging for their many years of service helping residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Six of the 15 have served for more than a decade as long-term care ombudsmen for their local Area Agencies on Aging. They are:
- Susan Kunda, Kalispell, 14 years, Area IX Agency on Aging;
- Carmen King, Wolf Point, 10 years, Area I Agency on Aging;
- Sue Foster, Lewistown, 10 years, Area II Agency on Aging;
- Gertrude Koch, Billings, 10 years, Area II Agency on Aging;
- Betty Challinor, Libby, 10 years, Area VI Agency on Aging; and
- Joan Johnson, Hamilton, 10 years, Area XI Agency on Aging.
The ombudsmen receive, investigate, and resolve complaints and problems concerning residents of the state's 100 licensed nursing homes and 180 licensed assisted living facilities, according to Kelly Moorse, state Long-term Care Ombudsman with the Office on Aging of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. They also serve as consultants to facility staff, residents, and family members. The Office on Aging contracts with the 10 state Area Agencies on Agency to provide regional and local ombudsman services.
The Montana Long-term Care Ombudsman program just celebrated its 25 th anniversary, Moorse noted.
In addition to the ombudsmen, nine people who serve as certified ombudsmen or "Friendly Visitors" have been recognized for their volunteer service.
The Friendly Visitor program is active in Great Falls, Conrad, Havre, and White Sulphur Springs. Its participants help support the ombudsman program by visiting facilities on a regular basis and helping to identify problems that residents may have.
"Volunteer services are a critical component of the ombudsman program, especially given the limited resources and large geographic area of the state," Moorse said.
Volunteers who were recently honored for their efforts were:
- Dick Fritzler, Laurel, volunteer ombudsman;
- Gertrude Koch, Billings, volunteer ombudsman;
- Sally Sandell, Ennis, volunteer ombudsman;
- Dana Dansereau and Katie Van Luchene, Conrad, Friendly Visitors;
- Richard Blount and Gail Wagner, Great Falls, Friendly Visitors; and
- Glen Zehntner and Betty Clay, White Sulphur Springs, Friendly Visitors.
Moorse applauded the commitment and care the ombudsmen and Friendly Visitors bring to their local communities.
"Never doubt that you make a difference and that you are serving as a voice for seniors in the community," she told them.
Anyone interested in volunteering to visit a nursing home on a regular basis should contact his or her regional ombudsman at 1-800-551-3191.
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
