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Residents of long-term care facilities are often reluctant to complain for fear of being told to leave or of some sort of retaliation. Others don’t want to “make a fuss” and, instead, they just “make do.” But residents have rights, and choice is one of them. Sometimes it takes an ombudsman to give a resident the confidence to speak up.

Janet knew what she could do right then to make Margaret’s life better. As a volunteer ombudsman, she advocates for residents of long-term care, making sure their rights are protected, and they get the care and quality of life they deserve. With Margaret’s permission, Janet talked with the nurse. Margaret’s baths were changed to showers, her towels were warmed, and the changes were recorded in her care plan. Such simple things made Margaret’s life better, happier, and warmer. There are more complicated issues that an ombudsman deals with but, big or small, helping to make life better for the residents, many of whom are vulnerable, just feels good.

COVID put a hole in the volunteer ombudsman program but, hopefully this year, volunteers we don’t know yet will be trained to visit facilities and help solve problems for the residents. Volunteers are the heart of the program.

The Area Agency on Aging has other volunteer opportunities that do good and feel good. All of us are aware there are scammers out there just waiting for the unaware to bite the hook. If you own a computer, have a phone, or get mail, you KNOW dishonest scammers will say almost ANYTHING to get you to buy their product or service, or give them your private information. Scammers are clever, with no boundaries of guilt or shame. To help someone know how to spot a scam and do something about it is super satisfying. Wouldn’t you just love to pull the plug on a scammer?

Did you know that Medicare loses BILLIONS every year to fraud, errors, and abuse? Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a national program that helps protect people from healthcare fraud. And there’s lots of it! Area Agency on Aging oversees the SMP program and offers online training for volunteers to educate individuals and organizations on how to avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud. Official sounding language and forms can be confusing and intimidating. SMP relies on volunteers to inform and talk to people in plain language anyone can understand.

That’s what SMP volunteer, Robert, did. He talked to a church group about how to detect fact from fiction in emails that made bogus inquiries to Medicare recipients. Low and behold, Stan, one of the group members, saved his friend from losing money and divulging information that could be used by the scammer. Did Stan feel good? You bet! Nancy, another volunteer, helps to set up information displays at local health fairs to inform the public about healthcare fraud. Her big reward is helping people be informed.

There are so many ways to help people. Even before COVID, many seniors were isolated and lonely. And NOW? Loneliness and isolation are pandemics in themselves. As people age and have conditions that keep them at home alone, a friendly chat on the phone can bridge that loneliness gap and brighten someone’s day. Information and Assistance (I&A) at the Area Agency on Aging has a list of homebound seniors who would LOVE to hear a friendly voice.

A friendly phone call may be all that’s needed to lift someone’s spirits, but isolated people may not be aware of inhome assistance and community services available to them. During the conversation, the friendly caller may discover the senior needs services to make life easier and can refer them to the Area Agency on Aging where Information and Assistance can put them in touch with the services they need.

The Area Agency on Aging offers several ways for volunteers to offer their time and heart—to be of service and make a difference in the quality of life of others. Whatever the volunteer service, it’s a do-good feel-good thing to do.

“Nothing is as strong as the heart of a volunteer.” Jimmy Doolittle

To volunteer, or learn more about the services of Area of Aging of North Idaho, call 208-667-3179,

Jan Noyes holds a degree in education and has used her teaching skills in public schools, adult education, workshops and seminars for church, civic groups, and corporations. Jan has been an ombudsman with the Area Agency on Aging for 16 years, recruiting and training new ombudsmen, visiting facilities and advocating for their resident rights, quality of care and quality of life.

It’s been quite a journey, and one with a happy ending!

by Bobbi Swan, Administrator, The Lodge Assisted Living

March 1, 2019 was another ordinary day for Mark Young, at the 6-acre car lot where he worked for 28 years. Except this day; he stepped out of his car and fell on black ice. Mark recalls laying on the ground when a co-worker saw him and came over to check on him. Mark told the co-worker he was fine. However, 15 minutes later this co-worker came back to find Mark still down and laying in a pool of blood. EMS was called and Mark was taken to the hospital. Mark was in a coma for two months and in ICU for five months (156 days as he recalls). That’s how Mark’s two and a half year journey began.

After a few months in a coma, Mark’s mom was told, on a Friday, that come Tuesday she would have some decisions to make. Mark never wanted to be on life support and that Tuesday morning, he woke up and was given a second chance. His journey took him to ten different medical facilities: Cadillac Hospital in Richmond, Harborview Medical Center, North Idaho Rehabilitation, St Joseph’s, St. Lukes twice, and then finally landing at The Lodge Assisted Living in April 2020.

During Mark’s journey, he had part of his skull removed, a shunt put in, had gotten meningitis from laying on the ground for so long and had COVID. While undergoing surgery for the shunt, he experienced atrophy of his left hand, and had to have 8 casts on his hand/arm and botox treatments. When Mark began Physical and Occupational therapies, he wore a helmet and could only stand inside the parallel bars for thirty seconds. He couldn’t even get out of the wheelchair for 11 months. When Mark arrived at The Lodge Assisted Living, he was unable to do much on his own, requiring the use of a Hoyer lift and two staff to provide full care.

Although doctors told him he would never walk again, Mark was determined to walk and make it back home. He attended outpatient therapy three times a week from April 2020 until August 2021. COVID put a wrench into things, but he wasn’t giving up. Therapy was cancelled while he was recovering from COVID, his therapist got COVID and then there was quarantine. Every time he left the facility, then returned, he was back on a 14 day isolation, confined to his room. He said he had seen enough Netflix and cable to last awhile. But again, Mark was determined to go home and get back to the life he left behind.