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Education and Empowerment for Minnesotans
Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-term Care, Self-Advocacy:
Self-advocacy is an important life skill that doesn’t disappear as people age. It is critical for older adults receiving care in long-term facilities and those who receive ongoing support. To help facilitate this ability to communicate their needs, as well as participate in decisions, the Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care partnered with Moving Home Minnesota (a Money Follows the Person project) to develop a training curriculum for people who receive long-term services and support in both the Skilled Nursing Setting and Licensed Assisted Living Setting. This self-advocacy training focuses on; Resident Council Development and includes topics such as the history of self-advocacy and Resident Council advocacy, resident rights, one-page descriptions, person-centered care planning, grievances, awareness of abuse, and understanding retaliation.
Emma Shepard
Emma Shepard, BA, MS Gerontology. Emma has worked for the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care for nearly four years. As a Self-Advocacy Specialist, she is working to educate and empower people receiving long-term care services and support. Her current focus is working to develop, implement and maintain a curriculum focused on resident and family council development for individuals residing in licensed Assisted Living and Assisted Living with Dementia Care Settings. Emma has worked under Older Americans Act Funding for the last 7 years in various roles, including an Elder Care Development Specialist at the Central Minnesota Council on Aging, an Aging Care Specialist, and a Caregiver Consultant through Age Well Arrowhead. She has worked in both Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Settings throughout her professional career.
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