Ombudsman Spotlight

Amanda Leck
Regional Ombudsman
How long have you been an ombudsman?
I’ve been a certified ombudsman and the Regional Ombudsman for the southeast region of Colorado which includes the counties of Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers for six months.
What made you want to become an ombudsman?
There are a few situations that steered me in the direction to becoming an Ombudsman. I lived in Pennsylvania during the 90s when there was a big push to deinstitutionalize people living with disabilities and move them into long term care nursing homes and community settings. At one nursing home where I worked, the Ombudsman came in to investigate an accusation of assault. I thought, “That’s a weird word!” When I found out what an Ombudsman does, I thought that would be such a cool job and it would be my dream job.
Also, I lost my father to gross neglect in a nursing facility. Even as his POA, I was never notified of what happened to him until after his death.
What has surprised you the most in being an ombudsman?
What’s surprised me the most has been how the face of the resident is changing in long-term care facilities. There seems to be more young people with complex mental health needs and substance use disorders. It really speaks to how there aren’t other support systems in place for these individuals.
What do you most enjoy about being an ombudsman?
I appreciate that every day is an opportunity to improve somebody’s life and that there isn’t a cookie cutter solution to the problems people are experiencing in long-term care. Working with the elder population, it’s an honor and blessing to be with them during this part of their journey. I never thought that I would be helping at this level.
Tell us the top 2 or 3 positive changes that you are working to achieve in the communities that you serve.
Southeast Colorado is unique area, with a lot of diversity that is reflected by those living in long-term care communities. I will continue educating on the diversity of these communities
Educating the residents that they are at the top of the social strata in the nursing homes and have a right to dictate how, when, where they receive care, assistance and live.
Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you in your work as an advocate?
The quote that comes to mind, and one that I feel applies to my work as an advocate is from the author and social activist Arundhati Roy, who said, “There’s no such thing as the voiceless, there’s only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard”.