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Berkshire County ombudsman — advocates for long term care residents
By Rae A. Eastman
Once a week Meryl Thomson, a soft-spoken, smiling woman, visits the small retirement home, Curtis Manor, in Dalton. Thomas is one of Elder Services’ 30 ombudsmen who enhance the lives of long term care residents by being their advocate, problem solver, and source of information.
Thomas enjoys her work, “Everyone is so happy at Curtis Manor and so welcoming to me.” Indeed, the four or five women watching television in the small living room greet her warmly. “I think they miss me if I don’t show up on Friday,” she says shyly. Most of the 24 residents are in their 90’s; four recently have turned 99. “I’m quiet,” she admits, “and I’m a good listener.” This might account for her popularity.
Thomson, who formerly taught severely disabled children, moved to the Berkshires about three years ago when her husband took a job in the Berkshire Medical Center Emergency Department. Beams Thomson, “I just love the quiet, pastoral nature of this life. I’m a country mouse now.”
Thomson's decision to become an ombudsman came about when her mother, who was in an assisted living residence, passed away. Following her death, Thomson found she missed the association with older people. “I saw their loneliness.” Thus, when she came across an announcement in the "Berkshire Eagle" for ombudsman training, she signed up.
Marianne Lewis was an ombudsman for “quite a few years” in Florida, operating solely as a troubleshooter in 12 long term care facilities, and called upon only when issues arose. She comments how differently each state administers the national ombudsman program, pointing to a poster that lists the nursing and retirement home residents’ rights, required in all licensed facilities in Massachusetts. She recalls, "Florida’s long term care facilities had many issues that I covered, including concerns about quality of care and non-English speaking staff, who were stretched by working long hours to support their families.”
After getting her Master’s Degree in psychiatric nursing, Lewis worked in private hospitals in Connecticut and New York for 35 years. One of the most interesting jobs was for AETNA insurance company. Her charge was to work with doctors on decisions about whether patients kept their hospital beds or had to leave. “A most challenging job,” she recalls.
Lewis came to the Berkshires from Florida, a year after her husband died of Alzheimer’s. After moving into Kimball Farms eight years ago, she enrolled in Elder Services of Berkshire County's ombudsman training. “Much more pleasant this time.” She was assigned to Fairview Commons, a nursing and rehabilitation center where she has been ombudsman for six years. The facility serves about 180 people.
Asked about the Massachusetts ombudsman program, Lewis says it’s a thorough and responsible one. When ombudsman service is lax or non-existent, the conditions can be punishing, as she observed in Florida. Thomson tells of her father’s going to a nursing home in New Jersey without her prior inspection. “Conditions were not good.” She took him out immediately.
As to the importance of ombudsmen, Lewis states, “My yes. “People in nursing homes must have a person they can trust.”
Rae A. Eastman is currently a volunteer with Berkshire Talking Chronicle. She is the retired Sheffield Council on Aging Director and currently resides in Lakeville.
Editor’s Note: To learn more about the Elder Services Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, please call 499-0524 or (800) 544-5252 or visit http://www.esbci.org/Programs/Ombuds/ombuds.html.