Health Department seeks volunteers to visit nursing home patients

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State health officials are trying again to recruit volunteers to visit nursing home patients. <br><br>The Caring Hearts of Oklahoma program has 40 volunteers and officials would like

Sunday, July 7th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State health officials are trying again to recruit volunteers to visit nursing home patients.

The Caring Hearts of Oklahoma program has 40 volunteers and officials would like to sign up at least 500. Participants would visit long- term care residents and patients for at least two hours a week.

The health department says Oklahoma has 23-thousand residents in 375 nursing homes.

A background check by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is required along with four-hour training session at the state Health Department or at a county health department.