Some of Florida's most vulnerable residents are waiting for someone to listen.
Volunteer ombudsmen are trained, certified advocates for people living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult family-care homes. It's meaningful work, and it asks something real of you. This page will help you decide if it's the right fit before you apply.
What a volunteer ombudsman actually does
You're assigned to one or more long-term care facilities in your area. You visit on a regular schedule, build trust with residents, and advocate when something is wrong. The work is mostly quiet and consistent. Sometimes it is hard.
Make unannounced facility visits
Visit your assigned facilities on a regular schedule. Walk the halls, knock on doors, sit with residents who want to talk.
Listen — really listen
Most of the work is being present and patient. Residents may be lonely, anxious, or guarded. Earning trust takes weeks or months.
Document and investigate concerns
When a resident reports a problem, you take it seriously. You document carefully, ask questions, and follow up.
Advocate with facility staff
You raise issues directly with administrators, nurses, and aides. You stay calm and professional, even when conversations are uncomfortable.
What it costs you, in plain numbers
We share this up front because the program needs volunteers who stay. Residents lose trust when their advocate disappears after a few months.
About 15 hours / month
Visits, follow-up, documentation, and council meetings. Some months are heavier than others.
Initial training + certification
Classroom and field training before you can serve. Ongoing continuing education each year after that.
Level II background screening
Required by Florida law for anyone working with vulnerable adults. The program covers the cost.
Comfort with email + Outlook
All program communication, scheduling, and documentation runs through Microsoft Outlook. You'll need reliable access and basic comfort using it.
Is this the right role for you?
Volunteers who thrive tend to be…
- Patient, observant, and good at listening more than talking
- Comfortable spending time inside long-term care facilities
- Reliable — residents and staff need to know when to expect you
- Discreet and able to keep difficult information confidential
- Willing to have respectful, direct conversations with facility staff
This may not be the right fit if you…
- Are looking for a one-time or short-term volunteer experience
- Have a hard time being inside nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Can't reliably commit ~15 hours a month for at least a year
- Aren't able to use email and Outlook on a regular basis
- Prefer to avoid conflict or difficult conversations
From application to certified ombudsman
Becoming certified takes time from application to your first independent visit. Here's what to expect.
- 1
Apply
Complete the online application. Takes about 10–15 minutes.
- 2
Conversation with your District Ombudsman Manager
A DOM in your area reaches out to talk through the role, answer questions, and confirm fit. No commitment yet.
- 3
Level II background screening
Required by Florida law. The program covers the cost. Results typically take 1–3 weeks.
- 4
Training and certification
Classroom and field training with experienced ombudsmen before you serve independently.
- 5
Assignment to your facilities
You're paired with a local council and assigned residents who need an advocate.
Still here? Take the next step.
Before the application, we'll ask a few honest questions to make sure this role matches your life right now. Five minutes — no commitment.