September 8, 2015
Breaking News: Comments to CMS on Federal Nursing Home Regulations due by September 14th; Consumer Voice Sample Comments Now Available to Use
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published proposed nursing home regulations on July 16th and gave the public until Sept 14th to send in comments. CMS needs to hear from consumers, their families and advocates around the country. This is one of the most important advocacy opportunities you will ever have to impact what new federal nursing home regulations will look like, including whether or not they include any minimum staffing standards. For your convenience, we have prepared sample comments on the proposed regulations that you can use as is or modify. These comments will be available on our website starting tomorrow morning, along with easy instructions on how you can submit comments directly to CMS or to Consumer Voice to submit on your behalf. They will be able to be accessed here, and we will also be sending out an alert to the Consumer Voice Action Network tomorrow with this information. Comments are due to CMS by 5:00 PM ET on September 14th, 2015, and it is critically important for advocates to provide feedback on these proposed revisions, which will shape the lives of nursing home residents for decades to come. Thank you for your advocacy!
Back to Top Materials Now Available from All Four Consumer Voice Advocacy Training Webinars
Webinars, developed as part of a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies, are now available from all four of our advocacy trainings. Powerpoints and materials are available in the Consumer Voice Advocacy Toolkit from "How to Craft an Effective Advocacy Message," "Delivering Your Message in Person: The Nuts and Bolts of Meeting with a Key Decision Maker," "Delivering Your Message: Utilizing Both Traditional Approaches and Social Media," and "How to Grow, Support and Activate Your Network." View all materials on the Consumer Voice website here. Back to Top Updated Agenda Available for the 2015 Consumer Voice Annual Conference
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An updated agenda for the Consumer Voice Annual Conference November 4-7, 2015 in Arlington, VA is now available! Bringing together long-term care consumers, advocates, ombudsmen, agency personnel, policy makers, researchers, provider representatives and others, the Consumer Voice Conference is genuinely unique and reinforces the advocacy perspective. Agenda highlights include a listening session with CMS, a wide variety of workshops on topics such as alternatives to use of antipsychotic drugs and nursing home enforcement; plenaries on the new federal HCBS regulations and palliative care for persons with advanced dementia; and many important group meetings. View the full updated agenda here, and register for the conference here. Don't miss out on these informative events with experts from across the nation! Back to Top September is Emergency Preparedness Month
September is Emergency Preparedness Month. This is a good opportunity for ombudsmen to evaluate preparedness of their program and agencies for emergency situations including talking to staff and volunteers about preparing for an emergency and emergency response.
The ready.gov website has a wealth of information, including logos, short educational notices, etc. with a focus for each week of September. The weekly hazard focused themes are: - Week 1: September 1 - 5 - Flood
- Week 2: September 6 - 11 - Wildfire
- Week 3: September 13 - 19 - Hurricane
- Week 4: September 14 - 26 - Power Outage
- Week 5: September 27 - 30 - Lead up to National PrepareAthon Day (September 30)
Additionally, the National Long-Term Care Resource Center has numerous materials and resources that can be used throughout the month to better prepare for an emergency. - Emergency Planning Checklists
- Tip Sheets
- Ombudsman Program Best Practice Models
- Webinar Recordings
- Resources - such as The Role of Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Nursing Home Closures and Natural Disasters
Now Available - Emergency Preparedness Kit for Long-Term Care Ombudsman 
The kit includes:
- Drawstring bag
- Flashlight
- NORC Tip Sheet for Ombudsman
- Being Prepared! Things Ombudsmen Should Do Before, During and After an Emergency
- Smart Phone Apps
- Emergency Management Dictionary and Translations
- CMS Emergency Preparedness Checklist for People Living in Long-Term Care Facilities, their Families, and Ombudsmen
Kits are available for $14.00 each (plus shipping and handling) click here to purchase.
Discounts are available for bulk orders (20 or more). Email ombudcenter@theconsumervoice.org for more information. Back to Top Leadership Council Applications are Due Today; Consumer Voice Governing Board Nominations
Consumer Voice is accepting applications for its Leadership Council!
The Leadership Council is the organization's governing body that focuses on public policy and program agenda development and implementation. The Consumer Voice also has a Governing Board, which focuses on organizational oversight, fiscal management, and fund development.
For the Leadership Council, we are looking for thoughtful leaders who can help us expand our influence and achieve goals such as raising the voice of long-term care consumers in national policy discussions, advancing quality in nursing homes and other long-term care settings, and expanding our expertise in home and community based care settings Leadership Council Member teams are for 3 years. Meetings are held every other month by conference call, with one in-person meeting a year at the Consumer Voice Conference. A description of Leadership Council roles and responsibilities can be found here.
Applications are due today September 8, 2015
Click here for the application. Please also send a resume to info@theconsumervoice.org Consumer Voice (CV) has formed a Nominations Committee to nominate new Directors to new three year terms. The Committee is composed of an equal number of representatives of the CV Governing Board and the Leadership Council. Governing Board member and LTC ombudsman, Lori Walsh, is chairing the committee for a second year. As part of the process, the Committee will determine the number of vacant positions. The Governing Board is charged with management and conduct of the affairs of the organization, including approval of an annual plan and establishing fiscal, operational and other organizational goals. Board members are responsible for fund development and fundraising, making a meaningful financial contribution to the organization, representing the organization as assigned and reporting potential conflicts of interest. Collectively, the Board reviews and ratifies the organization’s program and public policy agenda. Suggested nominees may be referred to Ms. Walsh at walsh@carie.org. Back to Top Atlanta-Area Workshop on Preventing Infections
Advancing Excellence is holding a workshop on Monday, October 5th in Stockbridge, GA from 9:00am-11:00am entitled "Disrupt Infections: Creating a Community of Prevention." Joanne Radar, author of "Bathing Without a Battle," Carol Scott, Field Operations Manager of Advancing Excellence and Dr. Bill Thomas, Founder of the Eden Alternative and Green Houses, will present. The cost is $79 for the first person from your organization, $69 for the second, $59 for the third and the fourth person is free. This educational session is appropriate for administrators, nursing, housekeeping, dietary, etc. CEUs available for nursing home administrators and nurses. For more information, click here.
Back to Top 40 Words of Wisdom - Preorder Now!
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40 Words of Wisdom is a unique keepsake book featuring written entries and artwork created by residents around the nation sharing their words of wisdom, thoughts on care and creativity.
CARE Matters is the theme of this year's Residents' Rights Month, designated by Consumer Voice as a time to highlight rights and quality in long-term care settings. Residents were asked to share how CARE Matters and they let their voices be heard--we received more than 100 entries from all over the country!!!
As part of the Consumer Voice’s 40th Anniversary celebration, we selected 40 of our favorites--moving essays, touching poetry and beautiful art--and combined them into 40 Words of Wisdom, a poignant collaboration of resident voices across the nation. This is a must-have collection!
Preorder your copy of this special keepsake book now and receive your book in October!
Consumer Voice members receive a 10% discount at checkout. Joint to get this and other benefits.
For bulk discounts (orders 25 or more), contact info@theconsumervoice.org. You may only utilize one discount - member or bulk discount - per order.
Back to Top Infographic on Financial Exploitation
AARP and the ABA Foundation have created an infographic to help protect those 50+ from financial exploitation and empower caregivers. In addition to the infographic, Jilenne Gunther, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor and lead on AARP’s Age-Friendly Banking initiative, and Caitlin Kovalkoski, Director at ABA Community Engagement Foundation, have co-written two blogs on joint accounts - Look Before You Leap - What You Need to Know Before Opening a Joint Account and No Leaping - Some Alternatives to Joint Bank Accounts. Back to Top Federal Court Eliminates Medicaid Coverage Gap for Low-Income Assisted Living Residents
A Cincinnati federal court ruled last week that the Ohio Medicaid program must eliminate a coverage gap that caused many Ohio assisted living residents to incur hundreds or thousands of dollars of unaffordable assisted living charges. Justice in Aging attorney Eric Carlson said, "This court's ruling is an important development for low-income elders across the country who want to be able to receive necessary services without moving into a nursing home. This ruling should be a wake-up call for federal and state Medicaid officials to reform their policies and eliminate these nonsensical coverage gaps." See Eric's blog post here. For more information, read the press release from Justice in Aging.
Back to Top September 13-19 is National Assisted Living Week
September 13-19 is National Assisted Living Week (NALW). NALW is sponsored by the National Center for Assisted Living and provides an opportunity for residents, families, staff, volunteers and the surrounding community to show how much they care for residents. The 2015 theme is "Nourishing Life: Mind, Body, Spirit." The theme celebrates the ways assisted living caregivers nurture the whole residents and how the residents nourish the lives of team members and volunteers by sharing their inspiring lives. For more information, click here. Back to Top
Webinar on Engaging Hard-to-Reach Populations
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in collaboration with The Lewin Group and Community Catalyst are holding a webinar in the Meaningful Member Engagement Webinar Series. Attend the third webinar in the series, "Hard-to-Reach Populations: Innovative Strategies to Engage Isolated Individuals with Behavioral Health Needs" on Tuesday, September 15th 2:00pm-3:00pm ET. This webinar will present several successful approaches being leveraged by Medicare and Medicaid plans to engage hard-to-reach populations through the creative use of data, stronger community partner relationships, and community outreach staff. Register here. Back to Top
Two-Part Webinar Series on Pain Management in Dementia
Pioneer Network is partnering with the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing at New York University School of Nursing on a two-part webinar series which will award 1 nursing contact hour to those attendees who desire CEs. (Information about how to obtain CEs for $10 will be provided during each webinar.) "Pain Assessment in Dementia: One Person at a Time" will be held September 22nd at 2:00pm ET and will use a lecture format with case studies to provide clinical examples; the content in this session will cover key components of assessing pain in the person living with dementia. Clinically feasible, evidence-based observational tools will be discussed, promoting a team approach to addressing pain in this unique population. Cost is $99. To register, click here. "Pain Management in Dementia: One Person at a Time" will be held October 20th at 2:00pm ET and will also use a lecture format with case studies to provide clinical examples; the content in this session will cover key components of managing pain in the person living with dementia. This session provides follow up to the pain assessment session. An overview of options for individualized pain care will be provided, focusing on the importance of analgesic trials, communication, and documenting results. Cost is $99. To register, click here. Back to Top
Briefly Noted...
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Spotlight on Giving: 40th Anniversary Special Gifts Campaign
For 40 years, Consumer Voice – known for most of those years as NCCNHR – has been dedicated to achieving person-centered, quality long-term care. We have made significant progress in this time, but in an ever-changing world in which person-centered practices compete with other values such as “limited government” and provider profits, there are always new challenges. One is occurring right now. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed new regulations governing nursing homes that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments. This is the first new set of rules in 25 years. They actually espouse a great deal of movement toward person-centered practices, but in many areas the new rules will cause problems. One problem is the absence of a definitive staffing requirement for nursing care. This is a major oversight.
Here is where your support for Consumer Voice during our 40th anniversary comes in. We truly need your help. We have mounted an extensive, multi-organization effort to address problems in the new CMS regulations. Once we have submitted our comments and have helped other advocates to do the same, the next phases of our advocacy will ensue. This continues to be extremely important work and Consumer Voice is leading the way. Now, can you be counted to make a significant contribution to this effort? Each person decides what “significant” is. There are many ways you can give: donate online or by check, sign-up for a monthly automatic payment from your account, make a gift of stock – even donate a used car or other property. 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. Back to Top 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 Month Events and Activities - Residents' Rights Month is fast approaching! Start thinking about planning events in October now. This year's theme is CARE Matters. The Consumer Voice website provides a variety of ideas for engaging residents and consumers and training ombudsmen and volunteers. Back to Top
| In this Issue
Breaking News: Comments to CMS on Federal Nursing Home Regulations due by September 14th; Consumer Voice Sample Comments Now Available to Use Materials Now Available from All Four Consumer Voice Advocacy Training Webinars
Updated Agenda Available for the 2015 Consumer Voice Annual Conference September is Emergency Preparedness Month Consumer Voice Leadership Council Applications Are Due Today; Consumer Voice Governing Board Nominations
Atlanta-Area Workshop on Preventing Infections
40 Words of Wisdom
- Preorder Now!
Infographic on Financial Exploitation
Federal Court Rules to Eliminate Medicaid Coverage Gap for Low-Income Assisted Living Residents
September 13-19 is National Assisted Living Week
Webinar on Engaging Hard-to-Reach Populations
Two-Part Webinar Series on Pain Management in Dementia
Briefly Noted...
Spotlight on Giving: 40th Anniversary Special Gifts Campaign
Spotlight on Educational Resources
Nursing Homes: Getting Good Care There Now Available
We have received a new shipment; our acclaimed resource, Nursing Homes: Getting Good Care There, is now available for purchase from our online store.
Consumer Voice’s classic consumer guide includes dozens of specific advocacy strategies, checklists and standards of care. A “must-read” for residents, family members, and advocates who seek the best possible care in nursing homes. Also a great training tool for all paid and volunteer ombudsmen. Purchase your copy here. Remember - Consumer Voice members receive 10% off. For bulk orders (25 or more), contact info@theconsumervoice.org.
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 September: Sepsis Awareness Month September: Emergencyl Preparedness Month September 13-19: National Assisted Living Week Tuesday, September 15: Hard-to-Reach Populations: Innovative Strategies to Engage Isolated Individuals with Behavioral Health Needs, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from CMS, The Lewin Group, and Community Catalyst Tuesday, September 22: Pain Assessment in Dementia: One Person at a Time, 2:00pm ET, Part 1 of a two-part webinar series from Pioneer Network and NYU, $99 Wednesday, September 30: National PrepareAthon Day October: Residents' Rights Month, CARE Matters Monday, October 5: Disrupt Infections: Creating a Community of Prevention, 9:00am-11:00am, Stockbridge, GA, Workshop from Advancing Excellence Tuesday, October 20: Pain Management in Dementia: One Person at a Time, 2:00pm ET, Part 2 in a two-part webinar series from Pioneer Network and NYU, $99 November 4-7, 2015: Consumer Voice 39th Annual Conference, Crystal City, Virginia Thursday, November 5, 2015: Consumer Voice's 40th Anniversary Party, 6:30pm-9:30pm, Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, VA
Register Now for the Consumer Voice Annual Conference
November 4-7, 2015
Get Your CARE Matters Buttons and Wristbands in Time for Residents' Rights Month
October is quickly approaching. Order wristbands and buttons with the 2015 theme, CARE Matters, now to ensure you receive them by Residents' Rights Month! Wristbands and buttons are sold in packs of 20, 50 and 100. See the Consumer Voice online store for more information.
New Resources Available on Nursing Home Transitions
- Quality Care, No Matter Where: Successful Nursing Home Transitions Report - examines nursing home transitions and how they can be improved from the perspective of both consumers who have moved back into the community and the agencies that assist them.
- Consumer to Consumer: Tips for a Successful Nursing Home Transition - provides steps nursing home residents can take to make their move go as smoothly as possible
- How-To Guide for State and Local Advocates - equips advocates with strategies, ideas and materials to use in working in their state.
View all resources here.
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
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