AAA7 seeks volunteers to help Adams County nursing home residents

In Adams County nursing homes and assisted-living homes, residents rely on outside eyes when questions about care, dignity or rights arise. Area Agency on Aging District 7 and its Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program are seeking more volunteers because only eight active ombudsman volunteers now cover a 10-county district that includes Adams County.

The push came as the program marked National Volunteer Month and used the moment to highlight a role that is less about charity than accountability. Volunteer Ombudsman Associates help residents understand their rights, advocate for dignified care and work to resolve complaints. They also educate residents, family members, friends and service providers about long-term care issues, giving local families a place to turn when concerns do not stay small.

The need is especially clear in Adams County, where 19.6% of residents were age 65 or older, according to Census Bureau QuickFacts. The county had 27,477 residents in the 2020 Census and an estimated 27,865 on July 1, 2025, spread across 583.9 square miles of land area. That geography matters. In a rural county of that size, regular visits, follow-up and travel can shape how quickly a problem in a care setting gets noticed and addressed.

Ohio’s Department of Aging says ombudsmen advocate for people receiving long-term care in nursing homes, assisted living, adult group homes, MyCare plans and home- and community-based settings. State guidance says Volunteer Ombudsman representatives provide a voice for residents, visit residents, observe conditions and care, inform residents about their rights, and help investigate and resolve complaints. The goal is not bureaucracy for its own sake. It is a trained advocate who can help a resident be heard.

AAA7 says volunteers receive special training, ongoing support and flexible hours, and may visit assigned nursing homes as often as they like. Ohio says certification training includes 16 hours of classroom instruction, along with preparation in problem-solving, interviewing, long-term-care rules and laws, and how to work with providers to honor consumers’ choices. The agency also points to practical benefits for volunteers, including stronger social connections, leadership development, communication skills, organization, purpose and less isolation.

With Adams County’s older population growing and long-term care oversight still depending on a small pool of volunteers, the region’s watchdog network is only as strong as the people willing to step into it.