Council on Aging Answers 2015 - 68

COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY

hOUSING

$675,000 Pacific Life Foundation grant, spread over
three years. Money also comes from the federal government and other private donations.
Snyder, who survived the budget cuts, is paid for 30
hours a week through a federal block grant awarded
by the Anaheim City Council.
But she's no clock watcher.
"If I get on something, I stick with it until it's finished."
Personal Touch
Technically, an Ombudsman is not supposed to get
personally involved.
"I'm probably the worst Ombudsman at this," Snyder says about keeping a professional distance. "I just
can't help it."
Weidner recalls working with Snyder during one of
her first days as program director. They went to visit
a woman who complained that her one pair of shoes
had been stolen.
"I guess she had told Lahoma that before, because
Lahoma digs into her purse and pulls out a pair of
shoes. I go, 'What?' I'm thinking, 'God, I love this
woman.'"
Snyder had paid for the shoes herself. After that,
the program created a "dignity fund" to help pay for
basic items that cost $100 or less.
Snyder likes to drop in at mealtimes to see what
the residents are fed and chat as they eat. At one
place, she stayed for several meals because, she says,
"I couldn't figure out what the food was."
She suggested the home begin serving meat, potatoes and vegetables.
During her recent afternoon visit to La Palma
Royale, Snyder spends time discussing medication
needs and favorite authors with resident Suzanne
Hawley, a writer who likes Joyce Carol Oates and Jeffrey Eugenides.
"If I come across any of their books, I'll know to
get them for you," Snyder says.
Anthony Bertolet is president of the La Palma
Royale residents' council. He credits Snyder for the
voice she lends to the concerns of the elderly in longterm care facilities where social workers are lacking.
"We'd be in trouble. We need Lahoma," says Bertolet, who has spent 12 years in assisted living. "She
does all the stuff we need to get done, that we can't do
68

Answers Guide 2015

WHAT
OMBUDSMEN DO

here are some numbers from a report detailing
the activity of the Council on Aging's ombudsmen from July 2012-June 2013:
n 5,444 unannounced visits to long-term care
facilities
n 1,499 complaints received and responded to
n 713 resident council meetings attended
n 293 advanced healthcare directives
witnessed
n 389 abuse allegations received
Source: Kathleen weidner, Director of Council
on Aging - Orange County Ombudsman Program

FIND OUT MORE

Issues that the Council on Aging's residential
care advocates address include: physical mistreatment of residents; lost or stolen personal items:
infection control; timely and correct dispensing of
medications; cleanliness and maintenance; food
and activities.
Call 714-479-0107 or 800-300-6222 to learn
more about the Ombudsman program.
Volunteers are asked to commit to at least 12
hours a month. There is a particular need for
more volunteers who speak Vietnamese or Korean.
More information is available by clicking
on"Advocacy & Protection" at coaoc.org.
ourselves."
Snyder says she feels fortunate to be able to provide
some dignity and protection.
"I've enriched my life more than I've probably enriched someone else's."
Theresa Walker is a Staff Writer for the O.C. REGISTER Contact the writer: 714-796-7793 or twalker@
ocregister.com

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Council on Aging Answers 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Council on Aging Answers 2015