Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009

Youngstown Ombudsman Honored for Helping Seniors Access Stimulus
John Saulitis Receives 2009 Excellent Advocate Award from State Ombudsman

COLUMBUS - The Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman recently presented its 2009 Excellent Advocate Award to John Saulitis, Regional Director of the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program serving northeast Ohio. Saulitis was recognized for helping local nursing home residents and others access the $300 payments available through the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

"John went beyond his normal job duties to ensure that long-term care facility residents in his area had access to this very valuable benefit," said Beverley Laubert, the State Long-term Care Ombudsman. "Many of the people John assisted receive only $40 a month to meet their basic out-of-pocket expenses. For them, this payment was a welcome relief that they may not have gotten without him."

Recognizing that many nursing home residents were unaware of their eligibility for the stimulus rebates, and still others were not able to complete the tax forms required to receive the payments, Mr. Saulitis sent facilities information packets that explained to staff how to complete the forms on behalf of residents. When staff assistance wasn't enough, he enlisted ombudsmen staff and volunteers, area agency on aging staff and student volunteers from Youngstown State University to go to the facilities in person to assist residents.

Mr. Saulitis took his advocacy outside the nursing facilities, as well. He and his staff visited the Canfield Fair and low-income housing developments to assist people with their tax forms. Announcements in local papers and church bulletins let the community know that the ombudsman program staff could assist with tax forms over the phone. He also contacted legislators to raise awareness that many elderly residents were likely to miss out on the stimulus money with no one to assist them.

Mr. Saulitis' efforts in northeast Ohio served as a model for other regions of the state, and he appeared on the Ohio Department of Aging's monthly television program, Finer With Age, to give viewers statewide some advice for accessing the one-time benefit.

The Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman created the Excellent Advocate Award in 2005 to recognize individuals and organizations who demonstrate advocacy, service or innovation that benefits long-term care consumers or protects residents' rights. Nominations are accepted year-round. For more information, to request a nomination form or to learn more about the ombudsman program and how you can get involved, call toll-free 1-800-282-1206.

About the Office of the Long-term Care Ombudsman

Ohio's Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman, housed within the Ohio Department of Aging, works with consumers, service providers and other state and county agencies to resolve complaints about services, helps people select service providers, and offers information about benefits and consumer rights. The state office oversees twelve Regional Long-term Care Ombudsman programs and coordinates a network of trained volunteers who visit residents in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities and report any issues to the regional and state ombudsmen.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.