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Volunteers

  • Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

     The SMP program helps Medicare beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud. SMP trained volunteer workers assist Medicare beneficiaries and their families.

    Services provided:

    • Education for beneficiaries to learn to scrutinize Medicare billing information to identify deceptive health care practices, such as double-billing, overcharging, or providing unnecessary or inappropriate services.
    • Education opportunities (i.e. Scam Jams) for seniors and the public about other types of fraud and scams, such as financial exploitation, identity theft, computer scams, and mail and telemarketing scams.

  • Volunteer Ombudsman Improving Care for our Elders (VOICE)

     A VOICE (Volunteer Ombudsman Improving Care for our Elders) member is an advocate and a problem solver for people 60 years of age or older who need or have questions about Long-Term Care.  Long-Term Care may be in an individual’s home, in an assisted living center or in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center.

    A VOICE member is trained after his/her background is checked and references are received and checked.  Training includes:

    • 24 hours of classes covering the Ombudsman Manual.
    • 24 hours of mentoring, one on one, with the Ombudsman.

     

    A VOICE member’s role is to:

    • Be assigned to one or more facilities
    • Visit assigned facilities at least monthly, or more often as needed
    • Provide information about Long-Term Care choices
    • Check on the quality of care in Long-Term Care setting
    • Report to Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator monthly

     

    What does a VOICE member do?

    • A VOICE member works closely with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator to solve problems in his/her assigned facility.
    • A VOICE member also makes unannounced visits to the assigned assisted living centers or skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers. During these visits, the Volunteer Ombudsman:
      • Talks with the residents about the Ombudsman program
      • Explain the rights that the residents have
      • Ask the residents if they have any problems with their services
      • Observe the quality of the care provided
      • Identify problem areas and make suggestions on ways to improve the quality of care