LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Ombuds-
man Program of the Steuben County Office for the Aging on July 14, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those distinguished organizations which have faithfully served
the health needs of the community and its citizens with extraordinary
diligence and compassionate commitment; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 30th Anniversary of the Ombudsman Program at the Steuben Coun-
ty Office for the Aging, to be celebrated on Wednesday, July 14, 2010,
at the Presbyterian Church, Bath, New York; and
WHEREAS, An Ombudsman is a State-certified volunteer who visits adult
residential health facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals to act as
confidant and spokesperson for the residents and their families; and
WHEREAS, The Ombudsman Program started in Steuben County in 1980 and
was only the 12th program of its kind in the entire State; at the time
of its inception it was under the able leadership of Sister Mary Andre
Streb; she was an essential member of the programs for 12 years who for
seven of those years served as the sole Ombudsman covering 30 homes; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Ombudsman Program currently has 19 active volun-
teers serving the six nursing homes, eight adult homes, and eight family
type homes located throughout Steuben County; and
WHEREAS, The Ombudsman Program of Steuben County is in the forefront
of advocacy efforts for patients, residents and their families; and
WHEREAS, The goal of the Ombudsman Program is to improve the quality
of life of residents by establishing a link between the resident and the
community to reduce the resident's feeling of isolation, confidentially
receiving, investigating and resolving residents' problems and
complaints; and
WHEREAS, As Ombudsmen, their responsibilities include confidential
complaint receipt and resolution; protection of resident rights; iden-
tification of adverse conditions affecting residents; providing informa-
tion; and making referrals on behalf of residents and their families;
and
WHEREAS, The success of the Ombudsman Program is in direct correlation
to the efforts of its volunteers, whose involvement is, and always has
been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusi-
asm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on
behalf of the program and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
recognize the Ombudsman Program, for its unwavering commitment to the
senior citizens of Steuben County, as it provides an uncompromising
standard of excellence in the delivery of superlative community service;
and
WHEREAS, Dependable and trustworthy programs, tending to the needs of
the community and its citizenry, represent the threads from which the
fabric of society is woven, and so now this Legislative Body is moved to
recognize the beneficent good works of the Ombudsman Program of Steuben
County sharing the pride of its history and accomplishments and antic-
ipating its future of continued growth in quality and personalized care;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Ombudsman Program of the Steuben
County Office for the Aging on July 14, 2010; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Ombudsman Program of the Steuben County Office for the
Aging.