State seeks volunteers to visit nursing home patients

Thursday, November 26, 2009

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BAY NEWS 9 -- Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season can be rough for those who live in nursing homes.

Many patients are hundreds, even thousands, of miles away from their families. Irving Schuman, who lives with his wife in a Tallahassee nursing home, said the holidays can be tough.

"It's a very sad, sad thing to think that these people come to the end of the road and don't have people coming to visit them," Schuman said. "And it would be a wonderful, wonderful thing for anyone who can make time to come over and see these people."

The state, through its Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, is asking for volunteers to pay patients a visit during the holiday season.

Aubrey Posey, who works with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, said interaction helps keep patients healthy.

"Socialization and engagement really helps someone's health," Posey said. "Helps alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's for a period and, you know, it really does boost morale."

Volunteers for the program don't have to be trained or undergo a background check.