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November 14, 2012
Consumer Voice Hosts Webinar on Home Care Report and Advocacy
The Consumer Voice hosted their latest webinar, “From Consumer Voices to Advocacy Action!” yesterday. The presentation was given by Executive Director, Sarah Wells, and Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Robyn Grant, and was facilitated by Advocacy and Development Associate, Sara Cirba.
Sarah Wells commenced the webinar by giving an overview of our newly released report on home care titled, Consumer Perspectives on Quality Home Care. You can access the report here. After that, Robyn Grant shared public policy recommendations derived from our new report. We then turned it back over to Sarah Wells, who discussed how to effectively use e-mail communications to influence public policy. And lastly, Robyn Grant brought it all together by discussing the public policy recommendations we’ve put forth in the report and also shared tangible action steps participants could take to advance those public policies as soon as the webinar was over. To view our advocacy tool kit to learn how you can improve your own advocacy skills, click here. In addition, to view the action page we shared with the webinar participants, click here.
Our next national training webinar will be held in early 2013 – so stay tuned!
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NCEA Provides Resources for Veterans
In honor of Veterans Day, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) compiled a list of resources for older and disabled veterans who are being targeted for financial abuse. NCEA also created a poster and web banner to be downloaded and used by anyone.
Visit NCEA’s website to access these resources and tools.
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NCOA Helps Older Adults Affected by Sandy
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is providing a way to help older adults affected by Hurricane Sandy. Buy a grocery gift card and send it to NCOA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program office, and they will give it to an older adult who was affected by the storm and needs help.
Senate to Hold Hearing on Elder Financial Abuse
The Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing on November 15th at 2:00pm EST in Dirksen 562. The title of the hearing is: “America’s Invisible Epidemic: Preventing Elder Financial Abuse” and it will be webcast live. This hearing will focus on prevention efforts to combat elder financial abuse through new federal, state and private sector initiatives. Frank Abagnale, whose early life was the subject of the book and film "Catch Me If You Can," will be among the witnesses testifying. Plus, the Government Accountability Office will present a new report looking at ways to fight elder financial abuse.
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Bolder Advocacy Holding Web Training on Capacity Assessment and Evaluation
The Bolder Advocacy initiative of Alliance for Justice is hosting a free web training on Tuesday, December 4th on strengthening nonprofit activities through capacity assessment and evaluation. The session will explore resources and principles for evaluating the impact of advocacy and community organizations. The session provides tools for those organizations thinking about advancing a policy goal, a media campaign or another advocacy strategy next year.
The web training is free, but registration is required. Register now.
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Who Will Manage Long-Term Care of Boomers Without Children?
A recent article in the Sacramento Bee looks at a topic of serious concern for some aging baby boomers – who will manage the care of boomers without children? When someone needs long-term care, many people turn to their children. But, when someone never has children, who will advocate for them if they’re hospitalized or who will come over any time, day or night?
Read excerpts of the article on Home Health Care News or read the original article in the Sacramento Bee.
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OIG Reports that Inappropriate Payments to SNFs Cost Medicare $1.5 Billion
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) posted a new report entitled “Inappropriate Payments to Skilled Nursing Facilities Cost Medicare More Than a Billion Dollars in 2009.” The report found that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) billed one-quarter of all claims in error in 2009, resulting in $1.5 billion in inappropriate Medicare payments. The majority of the claims in error were upcoded or were for ultrahigh therapy. OIG made several recommendations including an increase and expansion of reviews of SNF claims and following up on the SNFs that billed in error.
Listen to the podcast from November 13th on the report.
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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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