The Day I Became a “Redneck Advocate”

ombudsman visit rehab facility

I walked into a resident’s room in a rehab facility, introduced myself, and said,

“I’m the long-term care ombudsman. That means I’m a resident advocate.”

She looked at me, clearly puzzled.

“You’re a what?”

“I’m a resident advocate,” I repeated. “I’m here to see how your care is going and if there’s anything I can do for you.”

She frowned for a moment, thinking it over. Then she said, slowly and sincerely,

“You’re a redneck advocate?”

Smiling, I said, “Well… I am from North Carolina, so I guess I could be a redneck advocate. But officially, I’m a resident advocate. I’m here to make sure you’re getting the care you need, and that you understand your rights.”

She got it.

And then we both started laughing.

She told me she didn’t need any redneck or resident advocating, but she appreciated the conversation and the laugh.

Later, it made me think about what it really means to be approachable in this work. Ombudsman isn’t exactly a household word. Even a resident advocate can feel abstract or formal. Sometimes the title itself gets in the way of connection.

That moment reminded me that advocacy doesn’t start with definitions or explanations.

It starts with being human.

And sometimes, it starts with being a redneck advocate, at least for a good laugh.

To protect resident privacy, identifying details in this story have been changed. The situations described reflect real issues encountered in long-term care.