OmBUDDIES is searching for caring adult volunteers to facilitate visits between residents of long-term care facilities and school children. OmBUDDIES, sponsored by the Monterey County Long-Term Care Ombudsman, involves children from preschool to high school age in one-on-one interaction with seniors.

The OmBUDDIES project matches elderly residents of assisted living homes with young people and encourages lasting friendships between them. The program also fosters mentorship, allowing youth to benefit from the experience and wisdom of seniors while bringing a spark of joy into the lives of the elderly.

"The overall concept is to facilitate communication between kids and seniors," says Vicki Bamman, executive director of the Monterey County Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

If you would like to take part in the community spirit by volunteering please contact Linda Shapiro at 333-1300.

Homeless Helpers

Our society, sadly, fails to treat the elderly with the respect and reverence that they deserve. Luckily for the past 14 years, the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care has been serving the community by improving the quality of life for seniors in Monterey County. But now the agency could use a little help: It needs a new home.

The Ombudsman for Long-Term Care investigates complaints on behalf of residents of rest homes, supplies information about facilities and provides placement counseling. The Ombudsman fills a crucial niche as it is the only legally- mandated agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents of nursing and assisted living homes in Monterey County.

Although based on the Peninsula, the Ombudsman needs a small, part-time field office in the Salinas area to serve the rest of the county. Until recently, the agency has enjoyed the free hospitality of the county Department of Social Services, but unfortunately the lack of space at the department's office in Salinas has left the Ombudsman seeking a new home.

If you have space to share, please call 758-4011 from Salinas or 333-1300 from the Peninsula. The Ombudsman is a private nonprofit organization and their budget does not allow for rent. However, in exchange for donated office space, the agency offers a tax write-off and the chance to contribute to the community.

--Adam Valliant

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