February 26, 2014

Richard Gelula Named Executive Director of Consumer Voice

The Governing Board of The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care has selected Richard Gelula to be the nonprofit organization’s executive director effective March 1, 2014. Trained as a social worker in social policy and organizational management, Gelula joins the Consumer Voice following experiences as an executive of several nonprofit health organizations and as a consultant to dozens of others.

“We are delighted that Richard is joining the movement to ensure quality long-term care,” said Consumer Voice Governing Board President William E. Lamb.  “The prospect of growing numbers of older Americans means that we must work across institutions and organizations to ensure that the supportive long-term care services people will need as they age are available at the highest quality standards.  We feel that Richard will work with all of our partners as well as our staff and board volunteers to help us achieve these goals.”

For the past six years, Gelula was a consultant and principal of his own firm, Next Steps Consulting, LLC.  He worked with local and national nonprofit organizations to plan and develop strategies to advance their missions and programs.  Previously, Gelula was Executive Director and CEO of the National Sleep Foundation and Chicago Hearing Society.  He was also Vice President of Development of the Alzheimer’s Association and Associate Executive Director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.  Throughout his career, Gelula has worked to develop sustainable human services and to improve social conditions through advocacy and collaborative efforts.

Beginning March 3, 2014, Richard Gelula can be reached at the Consumer Voice at 202-332-2275 or rgelula@theconsumervoice.org.

Back to Top

New Consumer Fact Sheets Regarding Financial Exploitation

Developed in part through a grant from the Administration on Aging for the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), these fact sheets discuss the prevention, detection and reporting of financial exploitation in assisted living and nursing homes. There are separate fact sheets for residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes and their family members. The consumer fact sheets provide an overview of residents’ rights and facility responsibilities related to resident finances, tips for protecting themselves and how to report incidents of financial abuse. The fact sheets for family and friends of residents also review residents’ rights and facility responsibilities, highlight warning signs and how to report incidents of financial exploitation.

Access the fact sheets here.
 
Assisted Living Facilities

• Consumer Fact Sheet: How to Prevent, Detect and Report Financial Exploitation in Assisted Living Facilities
• Protecting Your Loved One: How to Prevent, Detect and Report Financial Exploitation in Assisted Living Facilities

• Consumer Fact Sheet: How to Prevent, Detect and Report Financial Exploitation in Nursing Homes
• Protecting Your Loved One: How to Prevent, Detect and Report Financial Exploitation in Nursing Homes

Back to Top

Save the Dates! 2014 Consumer Voice Annual Conference

November 15-19, 2014

Hilton Crystal City at Washington Reagan National Airport

Great news - the Consumer Voice Annual Conference will be back and in the Washington, DC-region once again in 2014!

We were thrilled to re-launch our conference last year with great success and look forward to having many of you join us again for another phenomenal event this year.

Attending the Consumer Voice annual conference is an excellent opportunity for you to network with advocates and colleagues from across the country; interact directly with long-term care consumers; hear from the best speakers in the field; receive the latest long-term care policy updates from key experts; and acquire tools and resources that will reenergize your work and help you put advocacy into action!

Be on the lookout for registration and the conference agenda details coming soon. We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC!

Questions? Contact us at info@theconsumervoice.org.

Back to Top

New Health Policy Brief Available on Respecting Choices and Advance Care Planning

A new brief entitled "Respecting Choices: A Case Study for Incorporating Advance Care Planning into Person and Family-Centered Health Care Delivery" is available from the National Academy of Social Insurance.  The brief, co-authored by Consumer Voice Consultant Janet Forlini, covers the Respecting Choices program which provides standardized materials to patients across all health settings; trains non-physician facilitators to guide patients and families in advance care planning; and implements common policies and practices for collecting, maintaining, retrieving and utilizing advance care planning documents across settings.  This policy brief makes the case that advance care planning can play a crucial role in ensuring that people receive the care they want throughout various stages of their lives.  Read the brief.

Back to Top

CMS Requesting Comments on Proposed Changes to Reimbursement of Durable Medical Equipment Under Medicare

CMS is requesting comments about proposed changes to reimbursement of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, and Supplies under Medicare.  Comments are due March 28, 2014 and CMS expects the document to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday.

Back to Top

About The Gazette