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The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

November 3, 2011

Green House Concept Highlighted in New York Times

Monday, a Green House facility, Green Hill Retirement Facility, was highlighted in the New York Times for its innovative nursing home and assisted living practices. Green Hill is one of 117 Green Houses across the United States, facilities created in an effort to deinstitutionalize elder care. Green Houses came about in response to the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act, which declared that residents of long-term care have the right to be free from abuse or nelglect. As a result, nursing homes are trying to become more “resident centered.” Consumer Voice’s Executive Director, Sarah Wells, was quoted in the article addressing the extent of resident-centered care: “It’s happening all over the country in a lot of different models.”

Sarah also pointed out the further implications of the Green House model: “we can learn a lot from what the Green House is doing and can translate these methods into things that existing nursing homes can use.” Positive effects in Green House facilities include employees reporting less stress and on average being paid more than those in institutional settings, residents feeling like they have a deeper relationship with the staff and family members reporting higher satisfaction with the environment. For more information, read the full article.

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Kaiser Releases Two Papers on Medicaid and Long-Term Care

The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has released two issue briefs addressing Medicaid and long-term care. Medicaid finances 43 percent of all spending on long-term services and supports.   Nearly half of the total Medicaid spending in 2007 was for those who rely on long-term care, though they only comprise six percent of the Medicaid population.    The first of Kaiser’s two new papers, Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Users: Spending Patterns across Institutional and Community-based Settings provides an overview of long-term care users and their acute and long-term care service spending.

Also, there has been increased interest among states in providing Medicaid long-term services and supports through managed care programs rather than paying for them on a fee-for-service basis, as has been the general practice. The second new paper released by Kaiser, Examining Medicaid Managed Long-Term Service and Support Programs: Key Issues to Consider, looks at factors for states to consider if they are planning a change to covering new populations and long-term services and supports benefits through managed care arrangements.

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Consumer Voice Signs on to Ad Opposing Medicaid Cuts

The Consumer Voice along with 176 national aging, disability and other organizations signed on to an advertisement opposing cuts to Medicaid that would harm older adults and persons with disabilities. The ad, which encouraged people to contact Congress and “demand they not cut long-term services millions of seniors and people with disabilities depend on,” ran in target state capitol newspapers on October 31st and November 1st. Newspapers that ran the ad included: Arizona Republic (AZ), Lansing State Journal (MI), Annapolis Capital Gazette (MD), The Olympian (WA), Columbus Dispatch (OH), Nevada Appeal (NV – ran November 1st and 2nd), Boston Globe (MA), and Helena Independent Record (MT). View the ad.

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Protecting Americans from Financial Abuse - Toll Free Nationwide Call-In Service on November 10th

Kiplinger, along with several national organizations, is holding a toll free, nationwide call-in service on Tuesday, November 10th from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.   The service, entitled Protecting Americans from Financial Abuse, will provide free advice and guidance on how to protect yourself and your loved ones against investment swindles and financial abuse. Members of the Financial Planning Association, National Adult Protective Services Association and health care professionals will answer your questions. 

Use the following phone numbers for questions on specific topics:
General Finance Questions: 888-227-1776
Medical Questions: 888-303-0430
Financial Abuse Questions: 888-303-3297
For more information about the event, visit the
Investor Protection Trust’s website.

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Residents' Rights Bingo Game Now Available

The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People is providing their popular Residents’ Rights Bingo game available for purchase.  The game has been updated with the addition of culture change concepts and new illustrations. The game is an imaginative way to empower residents of nursing homes and provide essential training to staff. The game meets the Medicaid requirement for training residents and staff about residents’ rights. It is also a useful tool for residents and staff of assisted living residents and long-term care ombudsmen. Purchase the game for $95 on The Legal Center’s website.

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About The Gazette

The Gazette is a weekly e-newsletter, published by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, please unsubscribe. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to swells@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2011.

The Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual. The Consumer Voice's mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports.

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