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October 21, 2014

SAGE Releases Report on Aging Concerns of LGBT Older Adults

SAGE released a report entitled "Out and Visible: The Experiences and Attitudes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults, Ages, 45-75."  The report details findings from a uniquely comprehensive, nationally representative quantitative study on aging among older LGBT people. The report is based on a national survey of 1,857 LGBT people and 519 non-LGBT people, conducted in March 2014 by Harris Poll on behalf of SAGE.  Some of the key findings include:

  • 1 in 2 (51%) LGBT older people is very or extremely concerned about "having enough money to live on," as compared to 36% of non-LGBT people
  • Two-thirds of transgender adults (65%) in the study feel that there will be limited access to healthcare providers as they grow older
  • 1 in 3 (32%) LGBT older people is very or extremely concerned about "being lonely and growing old alone," as compared to 19% of non-LGBT people
You'll find the full report, executive summary, infographic and a downloadable poster online here.


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12 Reasons to Attend the 38th Annual Consumer Voice Conference - Lower registration rates end tomorrow!

This is the latest entry in our 12 week series.

#9: Celebrate Consumer Voice's Upcoming 40th Anniversary!

The Consumer Voice wants to hear YOUR voice at the Annual Conference! Take a minute and visit our video booth to tell us why the Consumer Voice matters to you!  We are gathering and recording short anecdotes, reflections and observations to help us celebrate CV's 40th anniversary in 2015.  Take a moment to stop by the video booth and add your voice!

Click here for more reasons to attend the Consumer Voice Conference.

Regular Registration for the Consumer Voice Annual Conferece is closing tomorrow Wednesday, October 22.  Late Registration will be offered after this date, however rates will go up! Do not wait! Click here to view the registration information.

For more information about the Annual Conference, click here.
We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC!

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Most States Plan to Increase Nursing Home Medicaid Rates

According to a recent report from Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the National Association of Medicaid Directors, most states are increasing Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes.  The report showed that 39 states have increased nursing facility Medicaid rates, and that states are also accelerating efforts to reduce the number of nursing home residents.  Read the report here.

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24 Hour RN Bill Campaign - Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who has sent a contribution to support Consumer Voice and its efforts to advance Rep. Jan Schakowsky's bill, HR 5373, the "Put A Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act."  We have not yet reached our goal of $25,000, but every contribution is helping.  Please click here to learn more about the Bill and click here to contribute and to support our campaign to advance this important legislation.

Please see the letter from Consumer Voice founder Elma Holder endorsing Rep. Schakowsky's bill and CV's fundraising campaign.

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Williams Mitchell College Launches Minnesota Elder Justice Center

Williams Mitchell College of Law has announced the launch of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center. The new Center unites and expands the work of two successful earlier initiatives, the Vulnerable Adult Justice Project and S.A.F.E. Elders (Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation).   The new Center mission is “Mobilizing communities to prevent and alleviate abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of elders and vulnerable adults." The Center will focus on three main areas: building public awareness; delivering professional education; and informing public policy.  The Center's President of the Board of Directors is Iris Freeman and its Executive Director is Amanda Vickstrom, who will oversee the Center's management development and community relations. For more information, contact iris.freeman@wmitchell.edu or amanda.vickstrom@elderjusticemn.org.

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Ombudsman Programs Hold Residents' Rights Month Events


Resident artwork celebrating this year's "Better Staffing" RRM theme.

  • The DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program held its annual residents' luncheon to celebrate Residents' Rights Month.
  • At The Beacon 50+ Expo in Silver Spring, MD, the Montgomery County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program put the spotlight on residents' rights.
  • In Delaware, the 13th Annual Residents' Rights Rally will take place today in Dover to highlight residents' rights and this year's theme.
  • Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents held its 11th annual Residents' Rights Rally on October 13th at the state capitol in Little Rock.

For photos and information from these events and more Residents' Rights month news and happenings, visit our website.

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Join the Conversation!

Are you part of the Consumer Voice online communities?  We are regularly posting interesting stories from the world of long-term care on Facebook and we invite you to participate.  The number of "Likes," people following Consumer Voice on Facebook, continues to increase.  On Twitter, we release news and resources of interest to everyone focused on long-term care -- consumers, professionals, family members, advocates and more.  Please join these conversations by Liking Consumer Voice on Facebook and "Following" us on Twitter. We want  you to be informed and we want to hear your voice, too!

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In this Issue

SAGE Releases Report on Aging Concerns of LGBT Older Adults

12 Reasons to Attend the 38th Annual Consumer Voice Conference - Lower registration rates end tomorrow!

Most States Plan to Increase Nursing Home Medicaid Rates

24 Hour RN Bill Campaign - Thank You!

Williams Mitchell College Announces Minnesota Elder Justice Center

Ombudsman Programs Hold Residents' Rights Month Events

Join the Conversation!


It's Residents' Rights Month!

In October, advocates across the country are celebrating Residents' Rights Month 2014.

  • Visit our website to find residents' rights resources and activities and to find updates on how advocates and consumers across the country are celebrating.
  • Purchase Residents' Rights Month products including this year's fantastic calendar!
  • Read what residents' rights mean to residents nationwide in our Resident's Voice Challenge.
  • Let us know how you are celebrating by emailing event details, photos and news stories to info@theconsumervoice.org


4.1 It CAN Be Done!

As part of our nursing home staffing campaign, Better Staffing: The Key to Better Care, Consumer Voice is advocating for a minimum of 4.1 hours of nursing care per resident per day.  To show your support of this campaign, individuals can send us a photo with the slogan "4.1 - It CAN Be Done" by tweeting us pictures @ConsumerVoices, posting on our Facebook or emailing your photos to info@theconsumervoice.org.  Get the word out and encourage consumers to participate by sending in their photos too! 

You can join the Better Staffing: The Key to Better Care campaign, learn more about the campaign's goals, access the campaign advocacy toolkit, and take action at: www.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffing


Calendar of Events

October: 2014 Residents' Rights Month, Better Staffing: The Key to Better Care

November 15-18, 2014: Consumer Voice Annual Conference at the Hilton Crystal City in Arlington, VA Register now.

Thursday, December 11: Substance Abuse, 3:00pm EST, Webinar from The National Nursing Home Social Work Network


Your Consumer Voice Membership Shows Your Support for Quality Long-Term Care

The Consumer Voice envisions a world in which all consumers of long-term care, services and supports are treated with respect and dignity.  As we work to achieve this goal, we need friends and advocates like you to join us in our fight to achieve quality services for all long-term care consumers.  There is strength in numbers, and when there are many of us and our voice is strong, only then do we achieve our mission of empowering consumers and bringing about quality of life and quality care for all people receiving long-term care, services and supports.  That is why we need your help - become a member of the Consumer Voice!

Join now and receive a SPECIAL OFFER - your membership will not expire until December 2015 - That's 3 months FREE!

Go to www.theconsumervoice.org/join to become a member.
Questions about membership? Contact info@theconsumervoice.org


Making Charitable Contributions At Work?

If you are making charitable contributions through payroll deduction, please ask how you can "designate" your contribution to Consumer Voice.

If you are giving to the Combined Federal Campaign, the charity number for Consumer Voice is #10552.

Even if Consumer Voice is not listed as part of a workplace campaign, there is often an option to make a contribution to the charity of your choice.  All you have to do is ask how you can make a contribution to Consumer Voice.

Sometimes, you will have to use "NCCNHR" instead of Consumer Voice as your designated charity since that is how our organization is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.  In either case, the contribution should reach our organization.

Thank you for considering making a payroll contribution in support of our efforts of achieving quality long-term care.  If you have any questions or suggestions, contact us at info@theconsumervoice.org or by phone at 202-332-2275.


Join the conversation and follow us on social media!

Last Week's Most Popular Post:

Sunday, October 19:
Resident artwork on display at the DC LTCOP Residents' Rights Month Luncheon.

Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:

Thursday, October 16
:
We are posting consumer statements, photos, poems & more about the Residents' Rights Month "Better Staffing" theme.


Long-Term Care Resources & News

  • "Ending Life," Video, CBS News, Report by Anderson Cooper, October 19, 2014

Read past issues of The Gazette here.


Sponsor the Gazette - Consumer Voice is now accepting sponsorship for each weekly issue of The Gazette.  As a benefit of sponsorship, the contributor may honor, remember, or thank an individual or organization.  For more information, contact Richard Gelula at rgelula@theconsumervoice.org

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 below. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to info@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2014.

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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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