Ombdusman Signing

Pictured signing the Memorandum of Understanding are Kaye Mason-Inoshita, Ombudsman Program Director, Professor Jerry McCoy of Shawnee State University, and Cindy Oakes, Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator.

Recently, representatives from the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) Ombudsman Program and Shawnee State University confirmed their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to provide an educational opportunity for nursing home administrator students to complete an internship/practicum with the AAA7 Ombudsman Program. This unique partnership provides real life experience for future nursing home administrators enrolled in the Health Care Administration Program at Shawnee State University. The students are trained as Volunteer Ombudsmen and are assigned to long- term care facilities in the area, serving as advocates for the rights of residents.

This year, the AAA7 Ombudsman Program received two awards for their Internship/Practicum Program with Shawnee State University. On March 31, 2006, Kaye Mason-Inoshita was selected as the Practitioner of the Year by the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education, (OAGE). In August, the Ombudsman Program’s Internship/Practicum Program received a national 2006 Aging Achievement Award at the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s Annual Conference in Chicago.