Nursing Home Volunteers Needed In Maplewood, Other Essex Towns

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Residents of nursing homes may not always get the support and attention they need, but the state routinely trains and places advocates in the homes in order to prevent neglect and abuse. However, a state representative said Friday that they are very low on volunteers for the 34 nursing homes in Essex County — in fact, they have only seven volunteers for all of them.

The state hopes to train more volunteers in March to place in locations in Maplewood, West Orange, Livingston, Newark, Cedar Grove, Montclair, Bloomfield, Caldwell, West Caldwell, Irvington, Orange, and East Orange. The volunteers can be from anywhere in that area.

"There are 27 nursing homes for which I have no volunteer assigned," said Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, the state's long-term care ombudsman, in a letter. "This means that the residents of those 27 nursing homes do not have access to an independent advocate to visit them and help them resolve concerns."

Brewer's letter explains:

<blockquote>Every day across the country and in our own community, vulnerable elderly people are being abused, neglected and financially exploited in nursing homes.

While the care and treatment of elderly individuals in long-term care facilities in New Jersey is strictly regulated and can be very good, no facility is exempt from the potential for incidents of maltreatment.

But there is something that the average citizen can do to help. I urge anyone who is concerned about elder abuse and exploitation to call my office at (609) 826-5053 to learn how to become a Volunteer Advocate at a local nursing home.

As a Volunteer Advocate, you offer a familiar presence to nursing home residents, someone who will listen to them and respond to their concerns. After you receive 32 hours of training, you are asked to spend four hours a week (you make your own schedule) at a local nursing home, interacting with residents and advocating on their behalf.

We are currently seeking applicants for March 2020 training sessions. In Essex County, our goal is to place advocates in Orange, West Orange, Livingston, Newark, Cedar Grove, Maplewood, Montclair, Bloomfield, Caldwell, West Caldwell, Irvington, and East Orange.

If you are interested in having a direct impact on the lives of elderly citizens in nursing homes, please consider becoming a Volunteer Advocate.</blockquote>

Call 609 826-5053 for more information.