Long Term Care Ombudsman (Lansing)

Miadvocacy; Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life

Short-term disability

Health

Vision

Dental

Flexible spending accounts

$1,500 payout

3 weeks paid vacation

15 paid holidays

401K with employer match

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Job summary

The Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI) seeks a full-time local long term care ombudsman to serve Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. The position allows remote or hybrid office work with optional Lansing space.

Candidates must reside in or near the three-county area. MEJI, a program of Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services (MSAS), advocates for low-income older adults and people with disabilities on issues related to long term care, healthcare, benefits, elder abuse, and individual rights.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, advocacy, and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Making routine facility visits
• Interviewing residents
• Providing information on long term care and residents’ rights to residents and the public
• Negotiating with facility staff regarding resident concerns
• Supporting resident and family councils
• Collaborating with legal and state ombudsman staff
• Maintaining case documentation
• Participating in rigorous on-going training
• Coordinate activities with the other Lansing area ombudsman

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Advocacy

Time management

Independent worker

Job description

POSITION

The Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI) is seeking a full‑time local long term care ombudsman to work in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties and serve as part of the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (MLTCOP). This position has optional office space available in MEJI’s Lansing office. The work week includes frequent meetings with people who live in residential settings throughout the three county service area. The office portion of the work can be done entirely remotely or through a hybrid arrangement. Candidates must reside in Ingham, Eaton, or Clinton counties or in adjacent counties very near to the three county service area.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

MEJI advocates for and represents low-income older adults and people with disabilities on issues related to long term care, healthcare, benefits, elder abuse, and individual rights. MEJI houses the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the MI Community, Home, and Health Ombudsman, and it engages in litigation and systemic advocacy efforts on behalf of vulnerable adults. MEJI is a program of Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services (MSAS), a non‑profit organization providing free legal services to individuals and families with low-income, Michigan’s immigrant communities, older adults and adults with disabilities through several statewide programs. Visit meji.org and michigansas.org for more information.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Making routine facility visits
• Interviewing residents
• Providing information on long term care and residents’ rights to residents and the public
• Negotiating with facility staff regarding resident concerns
• Supporting resident and family councils
• Collaborating with legal and state ombudsman staff
• Maintaining case documentation
• Participating in rigorous on‑going training
• Coordinate activities with the other Lansing area ombudsman

Individuals hired for this position will undergo rigorous training and supervised field work. Upon satisfactory completion of the training, new hires must be designated by the State Ombudsman as a local ombudsman to continue in this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

Successful applicants will possess stronginterpersonal, communication,problem‑solving, advocacy, and time management skills as well as an ability to work independently and a desire to empower and support vulnerable individuals. Understanding the preferences, needs and concerns of older people and people with disabilities is essential to this job. Those skills can come from working as a caregiver, advocate, or service provider in a professional role or from life experiences. Experience in the field of aging, health care, and/or long term care and working with members of minority communities would be beneficial.

BENEFITS

This is a full‑time, exempt position with an annual salary starting at $53,000 depending on experience.

• life
• short- and long-term disability
• health
• vision
• dental
• flexible spending accounts
• option to take a $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary
• 3 weeks paid vacation
• 15 paid holidays
• 401K retirement plan including employer match for eligible staff after 6 months of employment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

MSAS/MEJI is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusionin the workplace.