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The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

March 12, 2012

Alzheimer's Association Releases 2012 Disease Facts and Figures Report

Alzheimer’s Association released the 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report. The report provides a statistical overview and analysis of Alzheimer’s prevalence, mortality, caregiving, and increasing costs as well as a special report on those living alone with Alzheimer’s.

Read the full report on Alzheimer’s Association’s website.

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CMS Launches New Initiative to Improve Behavioral Health and Reduce the Use of Antipsychotic Medications

On March 29, CMS will launch a new initiative aimed at improving behavioral health and safeguarding nursing home residents from unnecessary antipsychotic drug use. As part of the initiative, CMS is developing a national action plan that will use a multidimensional approach including public reporting, raising public awareness, regulatory oversight, technical assistance/training and research. The action plan will be targeted at enhancing person-centered care for nursing home residents, particularly those with dementia-related behaviors.

Launch of the Initiative to Improve Behavioral Health and Reduce the Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Nursing Home Residents
Premieres Thursday, March 29, 2012
1:00pm-2:00pm EST

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Join a Listserv for Nursing Home Social Workers and Social Service Staff

Nursing home social workers and social service staff are invited to join a national listserv that gives them the opportunity to network and discuss issues related to nursing home social work. This listserv is sponsored by the University of Iowa School of Social Work, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Mercedes Bern-Klug, with assistance from social work students. The list serv enhances and encourages communication, networking and sharing of ideas and expertise; provides online notification of relevant research, political and social policy issues; and creates opportunities for feedback and collaboration around nursing home social work issues. Ombudsmen and other advocates should let nursing home social workers and social work staff know about this resource since social work/social services personnel often practice in settings where there can be a lack of opportunity for collaboration and mutual support. 

Interested social workers and social services staff can join by going to University of Iowa School of Social Work’s website.

(Source: Dr. Mercedes Bern-Klug)

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Central Ohio AAA Helps Nursing Home Residents Move Home

Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging was recently featured in a Columbus Dispatch article for arranging nursing home residents to move home. Through the Medicaid-funded Home Choice program, clients are provided with as much as $2,000 for deposits, first-month rent and furnishings.

“The whole goal is to get people out of nursing homes who have been kind of stuck there,” said Erica Peecook, the agency’s Home Choice transitions coordinator.

More than half of nursing home residents in Ohio rely on Medicaid to pay medical bills.  Nursing home residents on Medicaid receive a monthly stipend of $40 to spend as they wish, leaving no way to save up to move out of the nursing home. The local area agency on aging wants to make leaving nursing homes a real option for residents.

For more information, read the article in the Columbus Dispatch.

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Support OAA Today!

1 of 3 older Americans is economically insecure, living one bad break away from economic crisis. The Older Americans Act (OAA) is a key vehicle for helping seniors stay healthy, find employment, and age in place – all of which saves taxpayers millions of dollars each year. As Congress debates OAA funding and reauthorization, we need individuals and organizations to raise their voices in support of the OAA – and urge their members of Congress to do the same!

Read more and send an email to your lawmakers now.

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Consumer Voice Cosponsors Event Featuring Prominent Women Discussing Aging

The Consumer Voice is cosponsoring an event from the Altarum Institute Health Policy Forum Roundtable Series on Friday, April 13th. In a panel discussion, The Last Word: Influential Women Discuss What Matters When Loved Ones Face Aging, prominent female authors will speak about their work, experiences, and compelling personal stories that led to publications that have profound and wide-reaching implications for public policy surrounding how we care for people in the final years of life.

For more information and to register to attend – in person in Washington, DC or via the web with streaming video, go to the Altarum Institute’s website.

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Article Shows How Much State Medicaid Program Reimburses Nursing Homes

Why should Medicaid pay for nursing homes’ liability protection, especially if they are sued for harming their residents?, Arkansas Democrat Gazette writer Mike Masterson asked readers in a recent column. With Medicaid cost report data provided by Martha Deaver of Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents, Masterson showed how just five nursing homes in Arkansas were reimbursed a total of $3.2 million in one year, with those facilities’ payments ranging from $512,222 to $977,475. Payments to 17 other nursing homes in six counties totaled more than $1.4 million.

The payments were made between July 2010 and June 2011. Deaver, who obtains Professional Liability Insurance Cost Reports through a freedom of information request to Arkansas’s Department of Human Services, said it is “always shocking” to her to see how much the state Medicaid program reimburses nursing homes. Liability insurance covers all types of claims against facilities, including lawsuits alleging harm to residents.

For more information, contact Martha Deaver at marthadeaver@sbcglobal.net.

(By Mike Masterson; used with permission, © 2011, Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

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US Inspector General Cites Problems with California Surveys and Enforcement

An HHS Office of Inspector General report says California’s survey agency understated deficiencies, including deficiencies that involved actual harm; did not ensure that plans of correction specifically addressed all identified deficiencies; and did not verify that sampled nursing homes corrected deficiencies before it found them in substantial compliance. The report notes that understated deficiencies result in inaccurate information on Nursing Home Compare.

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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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