General

Guest opinion: My life as a volunteer

December 5, 2022

As we approach the holiday season — nearly three years into this global pandemic — I am reflecting on my role as an advocate for people who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

All of us have been challenged with extended periods of social isolation, and our own health struggles. But no population experienced greater threats to their emotional and physical well being than residents in long term care, many of whom don’t have any visitors.

Thirty years ago I began volunteering as a long term care ombudsman. The word ombuds is a Swedish word meaning “to advocate for another.”

Source: Sequim Gazette