Ombudsman Spotlight

Jesse Bond

State Volunteer Program Coordinator

How long have you been an ombudsman?

I started as a local ombudsman in Colorado’s Region one, which incorporates Rio Blanco, Moffat, and Mesa Counties in 2023. I then join the State Ombudsman’s Office as the State Volunteer Program Coordinator in 2024 and my focus has been on building the volunteer infrastructure and abuse prevention training for staff and residents.

What made you want to become an ombudsman?

I have always wanted to work in positions where I am able to help others and be a true benefit to my community. The ombudsman position offered me good work/life balance while having an opportunity to help others. I enjoy speaking with a wide variety of people and have a deep appreciation for experiences people living in long-term care have had throughout their lives and want to see everyone treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

What has surprised you the most in being an ombudsman?

It is surprising to see how isolated and unsupported so many people are allowed to be in our society as they age or experience mental and physical challenges. I firmly believe we can and should be doing better for people in long-term care as a society.

What do you most enjoy about being an ombudsman?

I treasure the role of the Ombudsman to improve lives and outcomes. Improving the way a person is treated and seeing the person feel recognized, visible, heard and respected instead of forgotten or mistreated is a treasure. I also enjoy the comradery shared between ombudsmen, as they are some of the most empathetic and wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.

Tell us the top 2 or 3 positive changes that you are working to achieve in the communities that you serve.

I like to encourage creative and personalized thinking in the communities I serve. I like to try and encourage residents to take further ownership over their own lives and build their sense of community and teamwork.

I hope to promote compassionate culture change and promote the creation of a living environment that the staff would enjoy living in if they ever had to live in long-term care.

I work hard to try and have staff think deeply about the resident experience, their grief, their loss, the change residents experience and why compassion is so important.

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in your work as an advocate?

While it isn’t an exact quote, the way I like it worded is, “You don’t have to change the whole world to make a world of difference for someone.” That has been a guiding phrase for my work, and I’ve seen the truth in it. Changing one resident’s seat cushion that is causing them pain as they reach the end of their life can free their mind from being focused on their discomfort and allows them to do things like spend time engaging with their family, share precious memories and tackle some of life’s final questions. To the broader world, it may just be a seat cushion. To that resident it can be a freedom, a peace and a completely different final chapter of their life than it might have otherwise been.