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March 3, 2015

Save the Date: 2015 Consumer Voice Annual Conference

Consumer Voice is pleased to announce this year's annual conference will take place from November 5-7, 2015 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia.

The Consumer Voice 39th Annual Conference will be truly one-of-a-kind experience that will feature the best speakers in the field, many opportunities to network with colleagues and time to interact directly with long-term care consumers.  Mark your calendars for this can't-miss event.

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Help Wanted!

Consumer Voice is currently working on a project to identify ways in which the nursing home transition process can be improved for individuals moving out of nursing homes and back into the community.  A key part of this project entails interviewing former nursing home residents from across the country who have transitioned (either successfully or unsuccessfully) out of a facility about their experiences and recommendations. We will use this information to: (1) publish a national report which will describe consumer recommendations for improved nursing home transitions and recommend policy actions based on consumer input; (2) develop a “How To” guide that will provide suggestions to state advocates for implementing the report’s recommendations; and (3) empower individuals with disabilities and older adults who want to transition out of a nursing home to be self-advocates by creating a Transition Checklist that will highlight steps residents can take to better ensure a successful transition.
 
Consumers will be interviewed by phone, and the call will last approximately 30 minutes.  Individuals’ names will remain confidential unless permission is given for release.   
 
Please help us identify former nursing home residents who are willing to be interviewed!  If you know individuals who have moved out of a nursing home and into the community, put us in contact  with them!  All you have to do is provide us with their name and contact information, and we’ll take it from there. Please let them know that we will be contacting them.

For more information or to provide us with the names of people we can interview, email acelentano@theconsumervoice.org or call  Amanda at 202-332-2275, ext 221.

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Nursing Home Resident Advocates Support Changes in Federal Rating System

In response to statements from the nursing home industry that the government's changes to the nursing home Five-Star Quality Rating System are unfair, five consumer groups issued a statement yesterday in support of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' improvements and its plans to continue to improve the system with verified data and expanded quality information. The groups noted changes are not unfair - they are overdue - since evidence has shown that the five star ratings inflated the quality of many facilities. The improvements are the first steps to improve accuracy and increase fairness to residents, families, the public, and good nursing home providers. The statement was issued by California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), Center for Medicare Advocacy, Long Term Care Community Coalition, National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (NASOP), and Consumer Voice. To read the statement, click here

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American Geriatrics Society Releases Statement on Care of LGBT Older Adults

The American Geriatrics Society released a position statement on the care of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults who often face an unfair burden of discrimination in society and health care.  The statement tackles the present realities of prejudice due to age, sexual orientation, gender, and other personal traits, and also charts a path forward by advocating policies for equal treatment, professional training on LGBT needs, deeper awareness of unique circumstances facing LGBT older adults, and an enhanced research agenda supporting the same.  Read the paper, "Equality, Education, Research, & Respect Guide New AGS Recommendations for Care of Older LGBT Adults."

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Materials Available from White House Conference on Aging: Elder Justice Webinar

Presentations, recording and transcripts have been posted online from the White House Conference on Aging: Elder Justice Webinar hosted on February 11th.  The webinar provided an overview of what Federal agencies are doing to address elder justice issues, including in health, criminal justice, and finances. Access the webinar materials here.

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GAO Study on Antipsychotic Drug Use

A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the frequent pairing of antipsychotic drugs and older adults with dementia has been released. In the report, GAO recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extend education and outreach beyond nursing homes for a reduction in the amount of older adults with dementia being prescribed antipsychotics. The study points out that some efforts have been made by HHS agencies to reduce the number of older adults in nursing homes being prescribed antipsychotics but nothing has been done to advocate for those in other settings - such as assisted livings and individual homes.

Report highlights, statistics, recommendations, and the full 50 page report can all be found here

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DoL Home Care Rule Amicus Briefs

On February 27, the National Employment Law Project (NELP) filed an amicus brief in support of the Department of Labor's (DoL) home care rules. An amicus brief means "friend of the court" and is filed by a person or organization with strong interest in or views on the subject matter of a court action, but who is not a party to the action.

DoL's regulations provide for minimum wage, overtime protections and travel time pay for most of the nation's two million-plus home care workers and were to go into effect January 1, 2015. However, home care industry groups and the International Franchise Association successfully sued to stop the rules. DoL is appealing the ruling. The industry plaintiffs' brief and a DoL reply will be filed before April 23, 2015, with a decision expected by June 2015.

NELP's amicus brief was filed on behalf of the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI); Caring Across Generations; the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.; Community Catalyst; National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care; Hand in Hand; Cooperative Home Care Associates; American Geriatric Society; the American Society on Aging; and a host of other national and state-based groups representing home care consumers, employers and policy advocates. Other organizations and groups, including AARP, American Civil Liberties Union, American Association of People with Disabilities, the New York Attorney General and Members of Congress, also filed amicus briefs.

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NYS Hearing on AP Drugging

New York State Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried held a hearing on the use of antipsychotic drugs in New York State nursing homes. Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) Executive Director, Richard Mollot, testified on the findings of LTCCC's 2014 study on enforcement of standards to protect nursing home residents with dementia from antipsychotic drugging and chemical restraint use.

Others testifying included a LTC Ombudsman, several nursing home family members, a representative from LeadingAge, Dan Cohen of Music and Memory, and others who work closely with nursing home residents.

Written testimonies and video are available on LTCCC's website here

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Spotlight on Giving: Monthly Gifts

Consumer Voice’s ability to be an independent advocacy voice for long-term care consumers is made possible by the generous financial support of our donors. Monthly gifts are a great way to provide consistent support to Consumer Voice to help us sustain our work.  Your recurring gift will allow Consumer Voice to fight for the rights of long-term care consumers throughout the year. Such contributions can be set up as an automatic charge on a credit card.

Click here to set-up a monthly charge and click the amount you wish in the box titled "Become a monthly supporter with a gift of:". Thank you!

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Spotlight on Educational Resources

The Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center have a multitude of resources available online covering a wide range of long-term care topics.  Visit the Consumer Voice website and the NORC website to explore all the available resources.  Take a look at this week's highlighted resource:

Information on Policy Issues  - The Consumer Voice website features issue pages on many important policy issues.  Learn more about these critical issues and learn how you can make a difference too.

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In this Issue

Save the Date: 2015 Consumer Voice Annual Conference

Help Wanted!

Nursing Home Resident Advocates Support Changes in Federal Rating System

American Geriatrics Society Releases Statement on Care of LGBT Older Adults

Materials Available from White House Conference on Aging: Elder Justice Webinar

GAO Study on Antipsychotic Drug Use

DoL Home Care Rule Amicus Briefs

NYS Hearing on AP Drugging

Spotlight on Giving: Monthly Gifts

Spotlight on Educational Resources


Correction: The webinar featured in last week's Gazette entitled Involuntary Transfer and Discharge from Nursing Homes: Prevention, Advocacy, and Appeals was sponsored by the National Legal Resource Center.


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!


Calendar of Events

April 20-22: HealthCare Chaplaincy Network's Caring for the Human Spirit Conference,  to be held in Orlando, Florida

Wednesday April 29: Delivering Your Message in Person: The Nuts and Bolts of Meeting with a Key Decision Maker, Advocacy skills training webinar from the Consumer Voice

Tuesday, June 30: Delivering Your Message: Utilizing Both Traditional Approaches and Social Media, Advocacy skills training webinar from the Consumer Voice

Thursday, August 27: How to Grow, Support, and Activate Your Network, Advocacy skills training webinar from the Consumer Voice

October: Residents' Rights Month, CARE Matters


Residents' Rights Month 2015: CARE Matters

The Consumer Voice is pleased to announce the theme of Residents' Rights Month 2015: "CARE Matters."  Residents' Rights Month is an annual event designated by the Consumer Voice and is celebrated in October to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, sub acute units, assisted living, board and care and retirement communities.

For this year’s Resident’s Voice Challenge, we are creating "40 Words of Wisdom," a book of advice from residents and consumers.


Your Car Can Help Promote Quality Care

Do you, a loved one or friend have a car that you or they would like to dispose of?  Now, Consumer Voice can help – and your used car can help Consumer Voice!  By working with our car disposal agency, Vehicle Donation to Any Charity (V-DAC), the proceeds from the sale of your car become a contribution to Consumer Voice.  

Note: We are actually registered with the service as “NCCNHR” so when asked which charity you would like to benefit, just say or type in “NCCNHR.”

Here is a link to our page on the V-DAC site http://v-dac.com/org?id=52-1122531 and you can get started there – or just call 877-999-8322 toll free.   And to discuss your donation with Consumer Voice, just write to us at info@theconsumervoice.org or call (202) 332-2275 x209


Join the conversation and follow us on social media!

Last Week's Most Popular Post:

Friday, February 20:
Breaking news! Effective today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has made important changes to its national five-star rating system for nursing homes.

Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:

Friday, February 20
:
New gov't nursing home ratings: 1/3 had lower star ratings & over 60% had lower quality measure ratings.


Long-Term Care Resources & News


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

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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 below. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to info@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2015.

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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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