Testimonial

Ms. Pinkleton (not the client's real name) was a local gas company customer and had been for many years. One of the new policies, through the unregulated gas companies, was to charge all clients who did not maintain a certain amount of gas in their tank a “low consumption fee”. Ms. Pinkleton only used her gas for heat and was very conservative, so she fell below the cut off and was charged the $100 low consumption fee. To fill her tank above the cut off would have cost her well over $200. She did not have the $200 and did not feel that she should pay the $100 “low consumption” fee because she had been conservative. Well, her biggest concern was running out of gas before the winter was over or getting her gas cut off for not paying the fee. When she contacted M4A, we were able to talk with the gas company and set up an agreement that if Ms. Pinkleton filled the tank up they would drop the charge. We contacted a local organization in St. Clair County, and they agreed to fill the tank well above the low consumption cut off. This, in turn, got the low consumption fee of $100 dropped and gave the client gas to get through the winter.
– Anonymous

Staff

Jodi Beth Posey Ombudsman

jodi.posey@adss.alabama.gov

I am a 2003 graduate of Carson-Newman College with a bachelor of science degree in Long-Term Health Care Management. In 2003 I worked with the Jefferson County Council on Aging as the Assistant Coordinator for the SenioRx program. In 2004 I was certified by the Alabama Department of Senior Services as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman and began working as an Ombudsman with the Jefferson County Council on Aging. Currently, I serve as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman for Blount, Chilton, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker Counties through the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging, where I have been employed since 2005. I am a member of NCCNHR, the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care; NALLTCO, the National Association of Local Long-Term Care Ombudsmen; and AGS, the Alabama Gerontological Society, where I serve on the Board of Directors. As an ombudsman, I advocate for residents in Long-Term Care facilities and work to educate and empower residents, families, facilities, and the community to advocate on behalf of the residents’ best interests and a higher quality of life for residents in long-term care.
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