More volunteers are desperately needed for the Ombudsman Program at the Long Term Care Authority of Enid, Area Agency on Aging.

According to Julie Torson, ombudsman supervisor, there are only five current volunteers while the program has 30 nursing homes and assisted living facilities in its service area.

For those interested, there will be ombudsman volunteer training this week.

The training will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday (Feb. 26-27).

Volunteers are needed for the program in Garfield County as well as Kingfisher, Blaine, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Kay and Noble counties.

Ombudsman volunteers advocate for residents in long-term care facilities.

Interested individuals are asked to visit residents for only two hours weekly and attend a monthly volunteer meeting.

“Volunteers are needed as many residents in nursing homes and assisted living may not have visitors or someone to speak up for them,” said Torson.

Statistics show that around 60 percent of nursing home residents never have any visitors, Torson added.

The training will be held at the Long Term Care Authority of Enid at 202 W. Broadway, Suite A.

The training will cover senior issues, residents’ rights, nursing home laws and advocacy methods.

Interested individuals from the mentioned counties are urged to attend this training without any obligation, Torson said.

Individuals that are interested in attending the ombudsman volunteer training are urged to call Torson or fellow supervisor David Huff at 580-237-2236 to RSVP.