The Majestic Oaks Rehabilitation and Nursing center in Warminster recently held a second anniversary celebration of its PEER Program, the first program of its kind in Bucks County.
PEER stands for Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents, and the celebration on Nov. 15 honored the Majestic Oaks PEERs for two years of advocacy on behalf of their fellow residents; as well as providing information about the PEER program to staff and residents. The PEERs organized activities for their fellow residents.
The PEERs are Pat Briggs, Rick McDonald, David Gooding, Ruth Arnesen, and Sandy Osterbrink. Two years ago, amid the pandemic, these five residents attended a five-session empowerment training run by the Bucks County Ombudsman Program.
The training focused on resident rights, advocating for residents within the facility, empowering their fellow residents to improve quality of life, and partnering with facility staff and local ombudsman to improve quality of care in their long-term care facility. The PEERs meet monthly with local ombudsman to discuss issues at Majestic Oaks and brainstorm solutions. They are respected by facility staff for their work on behalf of the residents at Majestic Oaks and their efforts.
The PEER Program is funded and supported by the PA Department of Aging and the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging. It is staffed by state-certified Ombudsmen who routinely visit long-term care facilities throughout the county to educate residents about their rights and advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. For information, contact the Bucks County Ombudsman Program at 267-880-5716 or aging@buckscounty.org.
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