PA Ombudsman in the News Nov, 2002

Tribune-Review

'Walking suggestion box' enjoys ombudsman role

By Angel Brownawell
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, November 29, 2002

Carl Majtenyi laughed as he described the job of a volunteer long-term-care ombudsman.

"I'm a walking suggestion box," said Majtenyi, 77, of Ligonier.

But as he continued to explain what he does when he visits two personal care homes in eastern Westmoreland County, the list of duties goes beyond merely taking suggestions from residents and passing them along to the staff.

Ombudsmen — volunteer and paid — are advocates for older citizens living in nursing and personal care homes. They fill two primary roles: educating and investigating. Volunteers mainly educate the residents. They inform the often-vulnerable older citizens of their rights. Paid ombudsmen most often address individual cases that need to be investigated.

Whether residents are upset about coffee being served cold or believe an employee may be stealing from them, an ombudsman steps in and serves as a middle man.

"It's hard — a big transition going to a nursing home or anywhere else," said Majtenyi, who visits residents at Ligonier Gardens and Laurel Highlands Lodge in Donegal. "Somebody has to take care of those residents' needs and problems. I work toward satisfaction of all the parties (residents and administrators)."

In Westmoreland, there are about 25 active volunteers like Majtenyi who visit the nearly 100 facilities licensed in the county. But with 6,000 beds in 23 nursing homes and 88 personal care homes, the ombudsman program directors are hoping to add a few more dedicated volunteers to their roster.

"You can see why we need to have a few more volunteers," said Peggy Cook, volunteer ombudsman coordinator for the county. "(Residents) haven't given up their rights just because they are in a home. We educate them that they still can make choices and allow them to make those choices — even if they sometimes aren't the best decisions."

Ombudsmen, for example, often hear from residents that they want to leave the facility and return home. The volunteers don't tell them they have to stay — because they don't have to stay. Instead, the ombudsmen will ask questions: How will you get back home? How will you buy your groceries? How will you pay for things?

"That's when they realize leaving may not be the best choice," Cook said.

The volunteers come from all backgrounds and areas of the county, she said. Some are retired; others are young adults. They go through a daylong training, and the commitment they make is varied. Majtenyi schedules visits to his homes two or three times a month, but he is always on call if a problem needs immediate attention, he said.

A Hungarian immigrant, Majtenyi has been involved in volunteer work for most of his life. When he had young children, he helped with the Boy Scouts. Along with driving his Jeep over the mountains to deliver food for Meals on Wheels, he helps his fellow older citizens fill out their tax returns.

And for his own physical well-being, he swims 40 laps at the YMCA pool an hour a day, six days a week.

"I can't be a football coach anymore because the big guys would just crush me with their foot," Majtenyi said with a laugh. "Wanting to help others is just being human."

On Majtenyi's part, there's also a bit of gratitude to the United States. He escaped from his homeland during the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and fled to the United States. President Dwight Eisenhower opened the gates, offering refuge to thousands of Hungarians — including Majtenyi and his wife. They settled in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he worked for IBM. Ten years ago, he retired and moved to Ligonier.

"The people saved my head on my neck," he said with a thick accent that has stuck with him. "I owed them that much."

But it's not always about solving problems, getting answers or offering suggestions. There's also listening to stories and just being a friend. Several residents don't receive many visitors. It's important to maintain boundaries — volunteers aren't personal care aides — but often a resident just wants to talk, he said.

"Sometimes it's a lot of fun," Cook said. "You meet all kinds of personalities...They're all people with lots of histories."

 

Volunteer information

The volunteer long-term-care ombudsman program is supported by the state Department of Aging and sponsored locally by the Elizabeth Seton Center and the county's Area Agency on Aging. Volunteers, who attend at least one day of training, are advocates for the residents in the county's personal care and nursing homes. All residents of long-term-care homes have free access to the ombudsmen. For information on becoming a volunteer ombudsman, contact Peggy Cook or Debra Ramsay at 724-837-3437.

Angel Brownawell can be reached at abrownawell@tribweb.com or 724-539-3320.