New Jersey § 52:27g-10

§ 52:27g-10.

a. The office shall promote community contact and involvement with patients, residents

and clients of facilities through the use of volunteers and volunteer programs. The volunteers, as private citizens, may exercise, but need not be limited to, such

functions as visitation, consultation, problem solving, eliciting complaints, and,

generally serving as advocates on behalf of the institutionalized elderly. The office shall develop and propose programs for use, training, and coordination

of volunteers and may: (1) Establish and conduct recruitment programs for volunteers; (2) Establish and conduct training seminars, meetings and other programs for volunteers

and supply personnel, written materials and such other reasonable assistance including

publicizing their activities as may be deemed necessary; (3) Elicit the support of, and cooperate with, appropriate private, nonprofit and

voluntary agencies and community groups in the development and coordination of volunteer

programs and activities; (4) Establish a reporting system volunteers can use to document the major problems

and concerns affecting the patients, residents or clients of facilities; (5) Reimburse volunteers for some or all their actual expenses, including, but not

limited to, telephone and mileage incurred in performance of their duties under this

act; (6) Encourage, cooperate with and assist the development and operation of referral

services where current, valid and reliable information on facilities and alternatives

to institutionalization can be secured by elderly persons in need of these services

and the general public; (7) Request the participation and advice of such government agencies and other entities

or persons as the office may deem appropriate or necessary to the development of volunteer

programs and the effective use of volunteers; (8) Establish and conduct meetings and other programs for administrators, professional

personnel, and other personnel employed by or in contract with the facilities. b. The office may assist in the development and use, by patients, residents or clients

of facilities, of councils and other forums which permit such patients, residents

or clients to discuss and communicate, on a continuing basis, their views on the strengths

and weaknesses of the operations of the facility and on the quality of care provided

and quality of life fostered. Memberships on such councils shall be determined by the patients, residents or clients

of the particular facility and may include, but shall not be limited to, such patients,

residents or clients, interested relatives, friends or community persons. Assistance by the office may include, but shall not be limited to, conference with

administrators, operators or managers of facilities on the purpose and function of

such councils and, upon request, participation in the formation of a council which

the office deems appropriate to the individual needs of the facility and its patients,

residents or clients. In implementing the provisions of this section the ombudsman shall coordinate the

efforts of the office concerning volunteers and councils with all relevant government

agencies, and with the administrators of such private facilities as he may deem appropriate,

to insure coordination and avoid duplication of effort, so that the volunteer programs

and councils developed and supported by the office may genuinely serve the interests

of the institutionalized elderly without in any way disrupting the legitimate functioning

of any facility in this State.