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Community Advisory Committee

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 Community Advisory Committee

Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of residents in long-term care facilities?  Learn more about the Community Advisory Committee!

Community Advisory Committees (CAC) are trained volunteers who serve as advocates for residents in long-term care facilities.  CAC Volunteers spend 5-8 hours a month visiting long-term care facilities and meeting with residents, providing education on their rights, advocating for better quality of care, and empowering residents to make their voices heard.  These committees were established by the North Carolina State Legislature (G.S. 131D-31 and G.S. 131E-128) to be volunteer, grassroots advocates for residents in long-term care facilities.  Volunteers receive comprehensive training in how to become and advocate as well as support from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

People Standing

 WOULD I BE A GOOD VOLUNTEER?

  • Are you at least 18 years or older?
  • Do you enjoy talking to older and disabled adults?
  • Are you a patient and compassionate listener?
  • Do you have the time to commit 5-8 hours a month to volunteer duties?

Volunteers cannot have any personal or financial interest in the facilities they serve.

WHAT WOULD I DO? 

  • Receive a comprehensive 36-hour training (over 2-3 months), including on-site mentoring with the long-term care ombudsman to receive formal certification and designation.
  • Make quarterly visits to your assigned nursing homes or assisted living facilities with your fellow CAC members.
  • Talk with residents and identify and report concerns or issues to ensure that residents receive appropriate care.
  • Attend quarterly business meetings and complete 18 hours of continuing education hours annually.
  • Submit documentation regarding activities.

WHO IS THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN?

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman is an advocate, a voice, when residents and families have concerns about care and services in a nursing home, adult care home (also called assisted living) or family care home.  Ombudsmen are trained advocates and mediators. 

The Ombudsman Program stands with long-term care facility residents and their families to ensure that their concerns are heard and addressed.  Ombudsmen advocate on behalf of long-term care facility residents to uphold their rights and address quality of care and quality of life issues through information, education and mediation. 

Ombudsmen work to educate the public, residents, family members and facility staff regarding long-term care issues and elder abuse prevention, detection and reporting requirements. 

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is mandated through the Older Americans Act and funded by the Administration of Community Living.  Ombudsmen services are confidential and are provided at no cost to residents and families.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman provides training and supervision to the Community Advisory Committee Volunteers.     

For more information about Community Advisory Committees or to apply to be a volunteer:

Community Advisory Committee Job Description and Application

  

Listen to the YouTube link above as Sylvia Tyndall, Chair of the Forsyth County Nursing Home Advisory Committee and Andrew Applegate, Chair of the Forsyth County Home & Community Care Advisory Committee (i.e., Aging Planning Committee) at the PTRC Area Agency on Aging, discuss the role of CAC members and Planning Committee members and their importance in the rights and health of our long-term care residents. 

We are grateful to Sylvia, Andrew, and all our volunteers for the work they do on behalf of seniors, residents of long-term care and for the PTRC Area Agency on Aging.