DOWNTOWN : Ombudsmen Sought for Nursing Homes

WISE Senior Services, a nonprofit senior citizens’ advocacy organization based in Santa Monica, is accepting applications from inner-city residents interested in becoming state-certified volunteer nursing home ombudsmen. A free three-week training program Downtown begins Jan. 23.

During 36 hours of training, participants will learn the fundamentals of being volunteer ombudsmen, who serve as liaisons between the residents of senior nursing facilities and administrative personnel, said Estelle Harris, recruiter and training coordinator for the program.

Volunteering four to five hours a week, ombudsmen are responsible for listening to the concerns of residents regarding nutrition, medication and other care issues, and making sure the residents’ needs are met.

There is a special need in the inner city for bilingual ombudsmen who are fluent in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Tagalog, Cantonese or Mandarin, Harris said.

Information: (800) 334-9473 or (310) 394-9871.