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August 18, 2015
Side-by-Side Comparison of Current and Proposed Nursing Home Regulations Now Available
On July 16, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed revisions to the current federal nursing home regulations. To assist you in comparing the current version with the proposed rule, Consumer Voice created a side-by-side comparison. You can access a pdf of the comparison here and an Excel version of it here. In addition, CMS has created a “Long-Term Care Facilities Cross walk” to show cross references between the current sections and the proposed rule sections. We have converted this table to a pdf document, which is available here.
Comments on the proposed regulations are due September 14 by 5:00pm ET. Over the next month, Consumer Voice will be providing a sample comment letter that individuals and organizations can submit and holding a webinar on the regulations. More to come in the next few weeks!
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New Resources on Nursing Home Transitions Now Available
New resources on nursing home transitions are now available on the Consumer Voice website. Resources include:
- Quality Care, No Matter Where: Successful Nursing Home Transitions Report - This report examines nursing home transitions nationwide and how they can be improved from the perspective of both the individuals who had moved back into the community and the programs that assist them.
- Consumer to Consumer: Tips for a Successful Nursing Home Transition - The purpose of this Tip Sheet is to share with you suggestions for steps you can take to make your move go as smoothly as possible. These recommendations come directly from people who have already transitioned so you can learn from their experiences.
- How-to Guide for State and Local Advocates - This How-To Guide is intended to equip state and local advocates with information and tools to advocate for improvements to nursing home transitions.
All resources are also available in large print. Visit the webpage here.
*Special thanks to all the many individuals that helped with this project. We couldn't have done it without your help, guidance, and expertise!
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New White Paper on Words to Use with People Who Have Dementia
The Dementia Action Alliance has released a new white paper entitled "Living Fully with Dementia: Words Matter." The paper highlights the impact that words and phrases can have on the well-being and lived experience of people who have dementia. This paper provides guidance on preferred words/phrases, including the rationale for their use, as determined by a consensus of a number of people living with early-stage dementia. Read the paper here.
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Free Advocacy Skills Training Webinar
How to Grow, Support and Activate Your Network
August 27, 2015 2:00-3:30 pm EST
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 fourth and final advocacy skills training webinar within the series. We welcome anyone and everyone to participate - 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.
Participants in this session will learn about networks. We'll teach participants how to use their advocacy to grow their network by assessing their current pool, setting targets for growth, and using advocacy tactics to recruit additional people and mobilize both current and existing members. We'll also teach participants how to support their network by being a resource their network looks to for information and education.
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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FEMA Webinars on Updates to Federal Interagency Operational Plans
FEMA is hosting a series of 60-90 minute webinars to discuss the update of the Federal Interagency Operational Plans (FIOPs). FIOPs are federal plans that describe how the federal government aligns resources and delivers the core capabilities identified in the National Preparedness Goal. FIOPs cover the five mission areas - Prevention, Mitigation, Response, Recovery and Protection. All five FIOPs are being updated or developed concurrently to ensure they align across all mission areas. All webinars are open to the public. Advance registration is required, and registration is first come, first served.
The sessions will be conducted on the following dates:
- Monday, August 17, 2:00-3:00 PM EDT: General Overview
- Tuesday, August 18, 10:00-11:00 AM EDT: Protection
- Tuesday, August 18, 2:00-3:00 PM EDT: Mitigation
- Wednesday, August 19, 10:00-11:30 AM EDT: Response/Recovery
- Thursday, August 20, 10:00-11:00 AM EDT: Mitigation
- Tuesday, August 25, 10:00-11:30 AM EDT: Response/Recovery
- Wednesday, August 26, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT: General Overview
Register here.
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CDC Call on Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are holding a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call on Thursday, August 20th at 2:00pm ET entitled "CRE and C. difficile: Is Your Healthcare Facility Implementing the Necessary Approach to Stop the Spread?" During the call, clinical experts will speak about preventing antibiotic-resistant infections and improving antibiotic stewardship. Learn about work being done to implement a coordinated approach to protect patients from these potentially deadly infections. Registration is not required. Join by phone at 888-469-1370, passcode: 3791890 or by webinar here.
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CMS Table of Statewide Transition Plans for Implementing HCBS Settings Rule
CMS has developed a helpful spreadsheet of Statewide Transition Plans for implementation of the HCBS Settings Rule and its responses to State. The table will be updated as states submit additional documents and additional documents are available from CMS. View the table here.
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Pioneer Network Launches Search for Executive Director
Pioneer Network has launched a search for a new Executive Director. This opening is part of a strategic plan in place over the last several years. The ideal candidate for this position would be a person of successful leadership and non profit experience, knowledge of the concerns, practices and polices of aging and the systems of long term care support, and who holds the passion and persistence to effect the changes necessary to advance the agenda of a changed culture in aging. For more information, click here.
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Briefly Noted...
- Residents' Rights Month in October is quickly approaching. Do you have any events planned? Send event details, photos, news articles and media coverage to info@theconsumervoice.org
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Spotlight on Giving: 40th Anniversary Special Gifts Campaign
A critical focus of the Consumer Voice board of directors is ensuring that the organization is able to address effectively the long-term care challenges affecting people today and in the years ahead. A key focus is to fully fund Consumer Voice public policy and advocacy initiatives which are critical at a time like now when new rules are being written and when cost pressures further threaten the commitment to quality, person-centered care and the rights of long-term care consumers. The board has started the year with its own fundraising campaign seeking double the level of annual contributions from each member and now it is reaching out to all members of the Consumer Voice constituency to ask that each person consider making a special contribution to the organization this year. Contributions can be made online here, monthly, as a gift of stock, in recognition of an individual, organization, or in other ways. To discuss your gift and how you would like it recognized, please contact Richard Gelula at rgelula@theconsumervoice.org or (202) 332-2275 x209. And for more information about the 40th Anniversary Campaign, click here.
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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:
Residents' Rights - Residents' Rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. View the Residents' Rights webpage on the Consumer Voice website to learn more about these important rights and for resources on this issue.
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In this Issue
Side-by-Side Comparison of Current and Proposed Nursing Home Regulations Now Available
New Resources on Nursing Home Transitions Now Available
New White Paper on Words to Use with People Who Have Dementia
Free Advocacy Skills Training Webinar
FEMA Webinars on Updates to Federal Interagency Operational Plans
CDC Call on Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
CMS Table of Statewide Transition Plans for Implementing HCBS Settings Rule
Pioneer Network Launches Search for Executive Director
Briefly Noted...
Spotlight on Giving: 40th Anniversary Special Gifts Campaign
Spotlight on Educational Resources
Participate in the Nursing Home Staffing Campaign
As part of our nursing home staffing campaign, Better Staffing: The Key to Better Care, Consumer Voice is advocating to have a registered nurse on duty in a nursing home 24 hours a day/7 days a week. To show your support of this campaign, ask your Congressperson to support H.R. 952, the Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act. To learn more about staffing issues, visit www.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffing.
Calendar of Events
Thursday, August 20: CRE and C. difficile: Is Your Healthcare Facility Implementing the Necessary Approach to Stop the Spread?, 2:00pm ET, Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity call from CDC, No registration needed; join call here.
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
Register Now for the Consumer Voice Annual Conference
November 4-7, 2015
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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!
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Tuesday, August 11:
Consumer Voice's Robyn Grant is quoted in this article on CMS' proposed rule on arbitration agreements.
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Tuesday, August 11:
Beyond enforcement, "Nursing homes use of binding arbitration comes under fire" See Robyn Grant quote
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