MOUNT CARMEL - The Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Program held a graduation ceremony for seven residents who became PEERs (Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents) at the Mount Carmel Senior Living Community.
A special celebration luncheon was held for the PEER group prior to the graduation ceremony. The graduation was a time to celebrate the accomplishments of completing PEER training. Participants were awarded a certificate, a starfish pin, a door sign, a PEER shirt and a badge engraved with their name.
The seven new PEER participants completed a 10-hour training program. The PEER project is a series of interactive sessions for long-term care residents. It is a concept to train resident advocates to work from the inside with facility staff and residents to enhance the quality of care and life for their "peers." The project was initiated by the Pennsylvania State Ombudsman Office to work with long-term care residents who have volunteered their time and expertise to self-advocate for issues that will resonate for their peers. There are approximately 1,600 trained PEERS in more than 200 nursing, personal care and veteran's facilities statewide.
The five peer training classes, held over a five-week period, were taught by Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging staff, including ombudsman Shirley Golden, ombudsman supervisor Marisa McAnnaney, volunteer ombudsman Victoria Rosancrans and volunteer ombudsman Donald Parks.
The Mount Carmel Senior Living Center is the second facility in Northumberland County to participate in the PEER program. The first was Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehab facility.
PEER graduates are Stanley Chesney, Edward Gustitus, Mary Hertzog, Mabel Howard, Agnes Sadusky, Anthony Schetroma and Daniel Troutman.
The Pennsylvania State Long-term Care Department was represented by state ombudsman Wilmarie Gonzalez.
The graduates received legislative acknowledgements from State Sen. John Gordner, R-27 and state Rep. Kurt Masser. The Northumberland County commissioners also recognized the PEER graduates with citations.