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Franklin County Commissioners Proclaim October as Residents Rights Month

The Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed October 2018 as Residents Rights Month in the county.

Commissioners

October 11, 2018

Five people stand indoors, with one woman holding a certificate. They are dressed in formal attire and standing in front of a beige wall with framed pictures.
Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski, Ombudsman Sheldon Schwartz, Franklin County Staff Ombudsman Angela Pickel, Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller, Commissioner Bob Thomas

The Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed October 2018 as Residents’ Rights Month in the county. Across the country, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities along with family members, ombudsmen, citizen advocates, facility staff and others honor the individual rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Residents’ Rights Month. An annual event held in October by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, Residents’ Rights Month celebrates and focuses on awareness of dignity, respect and the value of long-term care residents.

The theme for Residents’ Rights Month 2018 is, “Speak Up: Know Your Rights and How to Use Them,” to emphasize the importance of residents being informed about their rights and being engaged partners in achieving quality care and quality of life.

The Commissioners expressed their gratitude to the staff and volunteers present and commented on their dedication to helping some of our most vulnerable citizens. “We’re proud of the programs and services that Franklin County offers to aging residents and the excellence in which they’re delivered,” said Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller.

The Franklin County Area Agency on Aging (FCAAA) conducts Pennsylvania’s Empowered Expert Residents (PEER) training sessions at two locations in the county. The PEER program trains resident advocates to work with facilities, staff, and residents to enhance quality of care and quality of life for their peers.  The program was initiated in 2002 by the Pennsylvania State Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office in an effort to assist long-term care residents in volunteering their time and expertise to self-advocate issues.

In July, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) identified the FCAAA as a best practice site for Guardianship Services. This recognition follows after a “green” rating was given to the FCAAA Older Adult Protective Services program in early June (green ratings are given to counties with highly effective programs). FCAAA staff was invited to co-facilitate a “best practices webinar” to train other Pennsylvania counties in August.

Franklin County Staff and volunteer ombudsmen will be conducting training for facility staff members as well as residents and their families throughout the month of October at many of the local facilities. For more information, contact Angie Pickel, staff ombudsman for Franklin County, at 717-261-0631 or at arpickel@franklincountypa.gov.