Ombudsman Spotlight

Sandra Glaser

How long have you been an ombudsman?

I have been an ombudsman for a little over a year now.

What made you want to become an ombudsman?

My passion has always been the care and well-being of our elder population. At a very young age, I was a caretaker for the first of many aging relatives. These experiences shine a light on the need for advocacy for the elderly and/or disabled populations living in facilities. To be the person that can help a resident to lift their voice for change or for a resolution to a situation is not just a job for me. Being an ombudsman affords me the opportunity to develop relationships with the residents of these facilities.

What has surprised you the most in being an ombudsman?

What surprised me the most in being an ombudsman is the number of residents who have no family, no support system. These folks depend on various agencies to get the care they need and the financial support they need. Oftentimes, the residents are left not knowing and/or not understanding how these agencies work and how they work for them.

What do you most enjoy about being an ombudsman?

As an ombudsman, I most enjoy the time when I visit with the residents in the facilities that I serve. To listen to their stories, hear their personal histories, and to be an advocate for them is more fulfilling than I can express.

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

Supporting resident rights to choose their medical provider.
Continued facility staff training in regard to Resident

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

“The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven’t changed in 70 or 80 years.

Your body changes, but you don’t change at all.”

Doris May Lessing