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| Vision |
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| Oregon's citizens living in nursing facilities, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes deserve quality care. They should enjoy freedom from abuse and neglect and the freedom to make choices about their care. |
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| Mission Statement |
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| The mission of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is to enhance the quality of life, improve the level of care, protect the individual's rights and promote the dignity of each Oregon citizen residing in a long-term care facility. |
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| Organization |
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The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is an independent state agency that serves long-term care facility residents through complaint investigation, resolution and advocacy for improvement in resident care.
Program staff work with a statewide network of over 200 volunteers who work in their own communities in a variety of roles.
Mary was appointed as the Long-Term
Care Ombudsman after serving 10 years as the Executive Director for CASA for
Children in Portland. A native
Portlander, she is a graduate of Willamette University and holds two Master’s
degrees (Gerontology and Public Administration) from the University of Southern
California. Mary and her husband Jerry
are slowly restoring a 1920’s Bungalow in Portland, which they lease on a month-to-month
basis from their rescue cat.
Melissa Bosworth, Deputy State OmbudsmanMelissa has a Master of Public Administration/Health Administration and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from Portland State University. Prior work experience includes Program manager for the Oregon Geriatric Education Center at OHSU and managing the Modle for Community Care program for Providence Health and Services. Melissa enjoys reading, research, and work with community partners and volunteers. In her free time she enjoys walking, trying out new recipies and browsing in second hand stores.
Ann Fade, Deputy State Ombudsman
Ann is the Manager of Agency
Training. She has a BA in history from the University of Oregon, a BS in
nursing from the University of Rochester and a JD from the Yale Law School. Ann
has worked as an oncology nurse at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City,
as an associate at the law firm of Fierman, Hayes & Handler and as the
associate director of Programs at Choice in Dying, a nonprofit organization
that invented the first living will. When not at work, Ann keeps busy wrangling
her three dogs and sleeping on the sofa.
Ana Potter, Deputy State Ombudsman
Ana has her undergraduate degree in
Communications, with a Philosophy minor.
She took a few years off, and then decided to go back to school to be a
lawyer. She attended law school at Lewis
& Clark College and became licensed to practice in April 2001. As an attorney, Ms. Potter’s practice
consisted mainly of family law and criminal defense; she received an award for
excellence from the U.S. Military for her representation of a client in a
custody case. In June 2008, she decided
to advocate for people in a different arena by becoming a Deputy Long-Term Care
Ombudsman. Ana enjoys boating, being a
mother, and reading in her spare time.
Valerie Pitcher, Deputy State Ombudsman
Valerie has a Bachelor’s degree in
Human Development from the State University of New York in Stony Brook and has
completed graduate courses in a MSW program.
Her previous work experience includes nine years with DHS/Child Welfare and 15 years advocating for the rights of vulnerable adults. Valerie has two bright and artistic
stepsons in college and a wonderfully grown stepdaughter who lives in New
York. Now that the adults are alone, Val
and her partner are able to travel the back roads and countryside. Valerie also enjoys reading, writing, walking
& gardening; and is a certified Barista with her very own espresso maker!
Molly Twarog, Deputy State Ombudsman
Molly has a BA in History from
Willamette University and an MS in Education from Western Oregon
University. She was the Associate State
Ombudsman in New Mexico for nine years before becoming a Deputy Ombudsman for Oregon. Prior to her Ombudsman work, she was a high
school history teacher and a District Executive Director for the American
Cancer Society.
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Tracy previously worked at SAIF
Corporation, Regence Blue Cross BlueShield and Country Financial. Born and raised in the Willamette Valley,
Tracy is married and has a daughter and a son.
Whenever possible, she loves to read, shop, and study architecture.
Gretchen has a degree in Community
and Human Services from Empire State College and is a Certified VolunteerAdministrator with over twenty years experience in managing volunteer programs.
She has had past work experience as a corporate manager, small business owner,
in government agencies and non-profit management. She is active on the local, state and
national level in volunteer management, presented at several national
conferences, and is a certified trainer for Oregon Volunteers! and is a
committee member of the Oregon Commission for Voluntary Action and
Service. Gretchen is married with four
adult children in all stages of life.
She enjoys camping, crafts, and all that Oregon has to offer.
Mary Ann has a long history with
long-term care. In the 1970’s she
volunteered in Multnomah County as a friendly visitor and joined the Long-Term
Care Ombudsman Program in 1995 in a volunteer capacity. In her spare time, Mary Ann flies her Cessna
170B and hangs out at the airport every moment she can.
Sherry has been the
secretary/receptionist with the OLTCO since June of 1995. Previously, she was a
graphic artist with Alexander Art. She and her husband, Rus, have 2 grown
children and 2 teenaged grandsons. Her passions are gardening and the out of
doors. She also enjoys sewing, reading and spending time with friends.
The program is monitored by the Long-Term Care
Advisory Committee who are appointed by the Governor, legislative
leadership, and senior organizations (per ORS 441.137). The Long-Term
Care Advisory Committee Member photos, bios, and their statewide representations can be found here:
Download a copy of the Long-Term Care Advisory Committee Bios
here
Contact with the Committee can be made by mail or email to:
The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman
3855 Wolverine NE, Suite 6, Salem, OR 97305
or by email to
the advisory committee