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May 19, 2015
Ready, Set, Take Action!
Wednesday, May 20 is PUT A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE NURSING HOME ACTION DAY jointly sponsored by the Consumer Voice and The Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations, (CGNO). Currently, nursing homes receiving money from Medicaid and/or Medicare are only required to have a registered nurse (RN) on duty 8 hours a day. That leaves nursing home residents at risk! A federal bill, H.R. 952, would change that by requiring a RN 24 hours a day. To learn more, go to: http://theconsumervoice.org/issues/other-issues-and-resources/support-24-hr-rn-coverage-in-nursing-homes
Be on the lookout tomorrow morning for an action alert asking you to contact your Congressman/woman and to forward the alert to people in your network. Please help us generate as many letters to our U.S. representatives as possible!
Also, join us May 20th at 2:47p.m. for a Twitter Storm. The goal is to get as many people as possible to tweet this message on the same day, at the same time: Tell Congress to support H.R. 952 #24/7NursingHomeRNs! Take action: http://bit.ly/1dhwQYy
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WHCOA Releases Brief on Retirement Security; Invites Public Comment
The White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) released its fourth and final policy brief with the topic Retirement Security. The brief provides information on strengthening Social Security, increasing retirement security and employer-based retirement savings options, and ensuring workers receive retirement investment advice in their best interest. WHCOA is inviting public input on all of the policy briefs: Healthy Aging, Long-Term Serivces Supports, Elder Justice and Retirement Security.
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Webinar on Younger Adults in LTC Setting
Join the University of Iowa School of Social Work for Part 2 of their webinar series "Achieiving Cultural Competence for the Younger Adults in the Long Term Care Setting" on Wednesday, June 10th at 3pm ET. Find the recording and handouts for Part 1 here. This talk will address best practices such as identifying needs and wants and how to prioritize competing interests. Emphasis on facilitating relationships is key, all within a cultural context that both honors this cohort of adults but also provides clear guidance to staff on achieving the best possible outcomes. Register here.
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#WeAreOAA Week of Action and Advocacy
Participate in the #WeAreOAA Week of Action and Advocacy. Earlier today, supporters participated in a Twitter chat to discuss the Older Americans Act programs and the need for reauthorization. Read the conversation here. Participate the rest of this week by:
- Emailing Congress - Write to your member of Congress and tell them why your community needs them to fund, reauthorize and protect the OAA.
- Calling Congress - Urge your Senators and Representative to fund, renew, and protect the Older Americans Act by restoring appropriations to at least the fiscal year 2010 levels, passing a bipartisan reauthorization, and removing the continued threat of across-the-board sequestration cuts. Get more tips and the call-in number sponsored by LeadingAge here.
- Telling your OAA story - The Administration for Community Living wants to hear from you about what OAA means to you and your loved ones. Share stories, photos and videos with them to build awareness about the importance of OAA in communities everywhere!
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Oregon State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Position Open
The Oregon State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has started recruitment for the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and Agency Director position. The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman serves as the Agency Head and chief advocate for residents of licensed care facilities across Oregon and in fulfilling the duties and functions of the Oregon Public Guardian and Conservator. In consultation with the Residential Facilities Advisory Committee, the position provides overall vision and direction to meet the agency’s federal and state statutory responsibilities. The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is appointed by the Governor for a four-year term and acts as the agency administrator with authority for the direction and operation of the agency and its extensive statewide network of designees, all citizen volunteers. The position has the responsibility to investigate and resolve complaints regarding Oregon’s long-term care and residential care systems, and for the establishment and operation of the Oregon Public Guardian and Conservator program. For more information and to apply to the position, click here.
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Updated Mental Health and Aging Resource List
In honor of Older Adult Mental Health Week (May 18-24), the National Coalition on Mental Health & Aging (NCMHA) and OWL have released an an updated NCMHA mental health and aging resource list that includes key resources on the mental health needs of older adults, effective interventions, workforce issues, and more.
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Save the Date!
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Watch out for early registration information!
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Briefly Noted...
Spotlight on Giving: Get Active for Consumer Voice
You can raise funds for Consumer Voice by participating in any local walk or run event and asking friends or families to "sponsor" you for a specific amount or an amount per mile or kilometer. You can ask that they make a pledge and they can donate online at https://theconsumervoice.org/donate-to-consumer-voice. Let us know and we will track your contributions.
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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:
Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act Issue Page - This issue page provides basic information about the Older Americans Act, why it's important to consumers and why it needs to be reauthorized. It also provides relevant updates and news, information on how to take action and additional resources.
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In this Issue
Ready, Set, Take Action!
WHCOA Releases Brief on Retirement Security, Invites Public Comment
Webinar on Younger Adults in LTC Setting
#WeAreOAA Week of Action and Advocacy
Oregon State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Position Open
Updated Mental Health and Aging Resource List
Save the Date
Briefly Noted
Spotlight on Giving: Get Active for Consumer Voice
Spotlight on Educational Resources
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, May 20: Put a Registered Nurse in a Nursing Home Action Day
Thursday, May 21: Webinar on Long-Term Care Ombudsman Final Rule, 3:00pm ET
Friday, May 22: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - Toward a Global Framework on its 10th Anniversary, 1:00pm ET, Webinar from the National Center on Elder Abuse
Monday, May 25: Final deadline for 2015 Resident's Voice submissions
Wednesday, May 27: Supporting Volunteer LTC Ombudsmen and Minimizing Risk, 3:00pm ET, Materials available here
Wednesday, May 27: Building Bridges Between Elder Justice Professionals and VOCA Administrators, 1:00pm ET, Webinar from the Office for Victims of Crime
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:
Friday, May 15:
In Massachusetts, privately owned nursing homes are being bought by out-of-state chains.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Monday, May 18:
Low income family home caregivers are paying out-of-pocket expenses which would otherwise be borne by Medicaid
Long-Term Care Resources & News
Read past issues of The Voice here.
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