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April 28, 2015
Only 1 Day Left to Register! Free Advocacy Skills Training Webinar Series
Webinar #2: Delivering Your Message in Person: The Nuts and Bolts of Meeting with a Key Decision Maker
April 29, 2015 2-3:30pm ET
As part of our Consumers for Quality Care, No Matter Where initiative, Consumer Voice will be conducting four FREE advocacy skills training webinars throughout the year. This will be our second advocacy skills training webinar. We welcome anyone and everyone to partcipate - long-term care consumers, family members, individual advocates, long-term care ombudsmen, members of consumer advocacy groups, family/caregiving groups, consumer alliances, and community and senior organizations.
The session will include:
- Determining who to meet with
- Assembling people to go with you
- Preparing for the visit
- How to conduct the meeting
- Following up
Registration is first come, first served, so register now! To register, click here.
*While the webinars are free, your contribution of $10 or more - or your membership in Consumer Voice - will help support our Public Policy and Advocacy programs. You can join the Consumer Voice here or make a contribution here.
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WHCOA Releases Brief on Long-Term Services and Supports, Opportunity to Provide Feedback
The White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) has released a policy brief on Long-Term Services and Supports, a key focus area of the upcoming 2015 conference. The long-term services and supports policy brief reviews five topic areas important to the aging community: informal caregiving; formal services and supports; direct care workers; access to information and services; and financing long-term services and supports.
This is the second in a series of briefs to be released by the White House Conference on Aging; a brief on Healthy Aging was released on April 10. Additional briefs on retirement security and elder justice will be released in the coming weeks.
Each brief concludes with a series of discussion questions; be sure to comment and share your feedback at policy@whaging.gov. The White House Conference on Aging will collect the responses and use them to help shape their ongoing work for the 2015 National Conference. Your comments will also be displayed in a new public conversation area of WHCOA's website.
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Consumer Voice Gem: Passage of the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987
As Consumer Voice celebrates our 40th anniversary we want to take this opportunity to reflect on our past and recognize the individuals who shaped our organization. In honor of the 40-year ruby anniversary we will highlight Consumer Voice’s Gems which include key leaders, organizations, and special moments that have made a significant impact on our organization’s development, mission, and advocacy.
This month's gem is the passage of the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 (OBRA 1987).
Betty Hamburger, former Consumer Voice president, presides over Capitol event in 1986 kicking off national campaign for nursing home reform.
Due to years of advocacy and coalition building regarding quality nursing home care, Consumer Voice was instrumental in the passage of the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act.
In 1986, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a report titled, Improving the Quality of Care in Nursing Homes. The report examined the current nursing home regulatory system and found that the system was inadequate and facilities needed better regulation. In response to that report and to advocate in support of the suggested reforms, Elma Holder, Consumer Voice’s founder, launched the Campaign for Quality Care (CQC). Under the leadership and coordination of Consumer Voice, representatives of 22 national organizations met regularly for a year to review the findings of the IOM report and develop recommendations to present to Congress.
After the introduction of the Nursing Home Reform Act, comprised of amendments in the federal budget bill, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87), Consumer Voice lead a national movement in support of passing the reforms. Congress passed the Nursing Home Reform Act, with bipartisan support, on December 22, 1986 and it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. This legislation was the first major revision of the federal standards for nursing home care since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 and significantly changed society’s expectations and federal requirements for individualized, quality care. OBRA ’87 defined national minimum standards of care and residents’ rights for individuals living in certified nursing homes.
Visit our website for more information about OBRA ’87, federal nursing home residents’ rights, and Consumer Voice history.
We invite you to join us in celebrating 40 years of making quality care matter by signing this e-card, sending a congratulatory message to info@theconsumervoice.org, becoming a member, and/or supporting our current and future work with a contribution.
Also make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and visit our 40th Anniversary webpage for additional information and opportunities to celebrate with us.
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LTCCC Releases Reports on Nursing Home Oversight
The Long-Term Care Community Coalition released two new reports on nursing home oversight - one with a national focus and the other with a focus on New York. The national report presents and reviews activities of the 51 State Survey Agencies while the New York report also looks at the activities of that state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Medicaid Inspector General. Click here for the reports.
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Long-Term Care Ombudsmen: There's Still Time to Register for Thursday's FREE Webinar
Supporting Volunteer LTCO and Minimizing Risk
Thursday, April 30, 2015 3:00-4:00pm EST
Join us to discuss how risk management applies to every aspect of managing and supporting volunteer long-term care ombudsmen. Attendees will receive tips for screening volunteers, identifying and removing risk, and responding to situations when the actions, or inaction, of a volunteer LTCO negatively impacts your program.
Presenters: Sarah Hinzman, Volunteer Ombudsman Program & Americorps VISTA Project Coordinator, IA LTCOP; Darlene Cray, Volunteer Program Coordinator, NH LTCOP; and Amity Overall-Laib, Manager, LTCO Program & Policy, NORC.
This webinar is free and open to State and Local Long-Term Care Ombudsmen. Registration is limited. To maximize participation, we ask that individuals from the same organization only register one person.
Register Now!
Can’t make this webinar? The webinar recording, slides, and resources will be posted on the NORC website.
Questions? Contact Amity Overall-Laib at aoveralllaib@theconsumervoice.org.
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Webinar on Best Practices in Local Emergency Planning
The Pacific ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Center and the ADA National Network are holding a webinar on Mary 14th at 2:30pm EST entitled "FEMA Promising Practices: Closing Gaps in Local Emergency Plans and Grassroots Emergency Planning." The webinar will share two best practices. First, the Massachusetts Active Planning project will share how they brought togehter local disability community members to work collaboratively to share resources and expertise about emergency preparedness and response for and with people with disabilities. Then, a second set of speakers will describe an effort to get people with disabilities and those with other access and functional needs to prepare for emergencies, communicate their needs to emergency responders, and to encourage businesses and local civic leaders to plan cooperatively for needs through periodic community meetings. For more information and to register, click here.
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Article Offers Alternatives to Antipsychotics as a Solution for Behavior Issues
A recent article in the Fort Morgan Times provides some ideas for alternatives to using antipsychotic medication as a solution for behavioral issues. The article encourages family members and staff to think about residents' behavior within the context of their environment and routines in their past. The article gives a fictional example of a resident who tended to wander around in search of something in the nighttime. It helps to know that this resident was a night watchman for 45 years. With this knowledge of his past, family members and the facility can resolve his behaviors by allowing him to sleep during the day and giving him a "job" to do at night. The article also offers other solutions and suggests attending a care plan meeting with nursing home staff or reaching out to your local ombudsman. Read the article here.
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Briefly Noted...
- Consumer Voice's Facebook page is a great place to share resources, learn about issues and take part in lively discussions about current events in long-term care. Like our page to participate!
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Spotlight on Giving: Sponsor The Voice
Consumer Voice is now accepting sponsorship for each weekly issue of The Voice. As a benefit of sponsorship, the contributor may honor, remember, or thank an individual or organization. For more information, click here or contact Richard Gelula at rgelula@theconsumervoice.org
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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:
Citizen Advocacy Group (CAG) Toolkit - This toolkit was designed to support the daily work of long-term care citizen advocacy groups nationwide. Developed as part of a project sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund, the toolkit aims to provide CAGs with organizational development resources that were chosen for their user friendliness and applicability to advocacy work.
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In this Issue
Only 1 Day Left to Register! Free Advocacy Skills Training Webinar Series
WHCOA Releases Brief on Long-Term Services and Supports, Opportunity to Provide Feedback
Consumer Voice Gem: Passage of the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987
LTCCC Releases Reports on Nursing Home Oversight
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen: There's Still Time to Register for Thursday's FREE Webinar
Webinar on Best Practices in Local Emergency Planning
Article Offers Alternatives to Antipsychotics as a Solution for Behavior Issues
Briefly Noted...
Spotlight on Giving: Sponsor The Voice
Spotlight on Educational Resources
There's Still Time to Participate!
*Thank you to those who have already submitted entries for the Resident's Voice! We have received wonderful submissions and are looking forward to many more!
In celebration of Residents' Rights Month 2015, residents are encouraged to participate in the Resident's Voice Challenge by submitting essays, poems, artwork, drawings, or videos related to the theme for Residents' Rights Month 2015 "CARE Matters". Click here for Resident's Voice submission guidelines.
- Residents and consumers are asked to submit 40 words of wisdom to coincide with the celebration of Consumer Voice’s 40th anniversary. Some entries may appear in our “40 Words of Wisdom” book (on sale this summer). (Have more - or less - to say? No problem! We will accept submissions of any length.)
- Possible types of entries include: essays; poems or songs; artwork, drawings or photos; word collage; or video/audio recordings. Need some inspiration? Click here for examples of past entries.
- Submissions are due by May 15, 2015.
- Use this flyer to spread the word!
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
Wednesday April 29: Delivering Your Message in Person: The Nuts and Bolts of Meeting with a Key Decision Maker, 2:00pm ET
Wednesday, April 29: Building Volunteer Engagement: Now and Into the Future, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from the Aging Network Volunteer Resource Center
Wednesday, April 29: How New CMS Person-Centered Care Planning Rules Apply to Medicaid Delivered LTSS, 2:00pm EST, Webinar from Justice in Aging
Thursday, April 30: Risk Management and the LTCOP, 3:00pm ET, Free webinar from NORC
Tuesday, May 5: Achieving Cultural Competence for the Younger Adult in the Long-Term Care Setting - Part One, 2:00pm ET, Nusing Home Social Work Webinar Series
Tuesday, May 12: Round-the-Clock Registered Nurse Coverage in Nursing Homes, 2:00pm ET, Free national webinar from Consumer Voice
Thursday, May 14: FEMA Promising Practices: Closing Gaps in Local Emergency Plans and Grassroots Emergency Planning, 2:30pm EST, Webinar from the Pacific ADA Center and the ADA National Network
Wednesday, June 10: Achieving Cultural Competence for the Younger Adult in the Long Term Care Setting - Part Two, 3:00pm ET, Nursing Home Social Work Webinar Series
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
November 4-7, 2015: Consumer Voice 39th Annual Conference, Crystal City, Virginia
Your Car Can Help Promote Quality Care - It's Easy!
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.
Donating your car is easy - V-DAC comes to the location of the car and picks it up (whether the car can be driven or not). Provide the car's registration and title, and V-DAC will send you a contribution letter with the amount of the donation that was made.
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:
Saturday, April 25:
Don't believe the part about saving money - and there is much more at stake than that for people rushed out of hospitals and sent to "skilled nursing facilities", nursing homes that often lack the skills and the trained personnel to help people recover.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Sunday, April 26:
Here's a great place to learn about & share info about long-term care
Long-Term Care Resources & News
Read past issues of The Voice here.
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