Expected and Actual Difficulties of Volunteer Resident Advocates in an Ombudsman Program

Much of the oversight in federally mandated ombudsman programs in nursing facilities is accomplished by volunteers. This research compared anticipated difficulties of volunteer resident advocates in an ombudsman program prior to their participation with those they actually experienced. Data were analyzed from an application form (n = 694 applicants) and a mail questionnaire (n = 700 volunteers). Applicants substantially underestimated the amount and type of difficulties they would experience. Incongruence between applicants' anticipated difficulties and those they later reported suggested areas for training and implications for practice.