Volunteering

"It's a worthwhile cause.  It got me there in the first place and has kept me ever since.  It's exhilarating to know all the information Pro Seniors put out there for older adults and to know all the things it's doing."

Upon my retirement a former coworker introduced me to Pro Seniors. I was invited to be on the board. Since that time, I have witnessed the amazing work they do. They are advocates for seniors in the courtroom and in assisted living facilities. Through my experience with Pro Seniors they have helped me be an advocate for members of my family.

During 25 years of working for non-profit agencies I learned about Pro Seniors' Programs and the tremendous work they’re doing in the community. They were one of my select “go to" agencies when I made referrals and they never disappointed. As a volunteer ombudsman, I was invited to share Pro Seniors' work in the community through presentations. I was ecstatic just to be asked to continue using my presentation skills, volunteering for an organization that I’d worked with, praised, and supported for years, while doing something I LOVE and was uniquely qualified to do. (It seems the majority of people in this world HATE public speaking and I LOVE it.) Pro Seniors is a unique organization focusing on the rights of the elderly. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be one of their volunteers.

“All too often I read about exploitation of the elderly in the news. Makes me angry. And volunteering for SMP (and OSHIIP) is just my way of helping.”​

"In the early days of the COVID lockdown, I received a frantic call from a long-time client. A family member had been hospitalized and was about to be discharged from the hospital to a care facility quite a distance from their residence. I was able to connect my client with the appropriate ombudsman at Pro Seniors. Through the intervention of the Pro Seniors ombudsman, the family member entered a care facility of which my client approved. This is just one of many examples of the extremely high quality of services provided by Pro Seniors' compassionate and dedicated staff."

As a volunteer with Pro Seniors I speak directly with Nursing Home residents and their families. Pro Seniors helps resolve serious care problems, by working with the home's administration, the resident, and the family, to make sure the resident's care is correct and consistent. For example, a resident's daughter called with concerns about her father who has dementia. She reported problems with personal care (shaving, haircut, etc.), and failing to provide food in a form that her dad could manage. Pro Seniors spoke with the Director of Nursing and Administrator to express these concerns and ask for improvements. The changes were implemented immediately. Without Pro Seniors, this gentleman would likely still be living "in the shadow" of good care.

"I like being a Fraud Fighter volunteer with Senior Medicare Patrol because it turns the tables. I'm no longer seen as frail, or as this little old lady who doesn't know anything. Instead, I have a wealth of information, so I can call them on it and hang up."