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November 3, 2015
Consumer Voice Conference Registrants: We Can't Wait to See You!
We're just a day out from the start of Consumer Voice's 39th Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia. Important information for conference registrants:
Where to Go
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
2800 South Potomac Ave.
Arlington, VA 22202
How to Get There
- From Washington Reagan National Airport:
- Shuttle: The hotel offers a free airport shuttle. Call 1 703 413 1300 from the airport to be picked up.
- Metro: The Crystal City Metro Station is located less than one mile from the hotel - about an 18 minute walk.
- Taxi: Taxis are available outside the terminal and should cost approximately $10.00. Most cars accept both cash and credit cards.
- By car:
- Parking is available at the hotel for $7/ hour and $27/daily. More information on travel (including driving directions, nearby airports, bus and train stations) can be found here.
What to Pack
We try our best to keep a comfortable temperature in all of the session rooms, but everyone’s comfort is a little different. Remember to pack layers so you can adjust as necessary. The forecast this week is calling for temperatures in the mid to high 60s in Arlington with temperatures dropping to the mid-50s at night.
Don't forget to pack your favorite outfits from the past four decades! Bring your favorite bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye or your best 80's jumpsuit for our 40th Anniversary Party on Thursday night! (Plus, make a $40 contribution and your congratulatory message will be displayed during the party!)
Registration Desk Hours
Registration is open starting on Wednesday at 8:00am and will be open daily from 8:00am to 7:00pm.
Scope out the Agenda
You don't need to let us know in advance what workshops you plan to attend. We just wanted to share the full agenda so you can get as excited about this week as we are!
It is not too late to register for a pre-conference intensive on Wednesday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm! Cost is $60. Sign up for either; Individualized Care Instead of Antipsychotic Medications: It's Really Possible! Or Advocacy Strategies and Appeals: Involuntary Discharge from Nursing Homes and Assisted Living. You can pay in person at the conference with cash, check or credit card.
Safe travels - we will see you soon!
Questions? Contact info@theconsumervoice.org
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Free Webinar - Put a STOP to Poor Care
Wednesday, November 18 3:00-4:15pm ET
Put a STOP to Poor Care: Advocating for Quality Care
Join us for a webinar hosted by Consumer Voice in collaboration with the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) to learn how to advocate for quality, individualized care.
Regardless of where an individual receives long-term care services and supports they are entitled to receive quality, person-centered care.
During this webinar we will:
- Identify indicators of quality care and warning signs of poor care;
- Provide communication tips, and share advocacy strategies to help consumers, family members, advocates, and others advocate for individualized care;
- Share resources available to assist in your advocacy, including advocacy with and on behalf of, individuals with limited capacity; and
- Review the role of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) Program and how and when to seek LTCO assistance.
Please register and share this registration invitation with long-term care consumers, family members, Resident Councils, Family Councils, and advocates that would benefit from this information.
If you have any questions or issues registering for the webinar, please email info@theconsumervoice.org
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CMS Issues Updated Edition of Appendix PP of State Operations Manual
CMS has issued an updated edition of Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual entitled "Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities." This resource builds upon federal regulations, providing information for federal and state surveyors on complaint investigations and oversight of nursing homes. Surveyors are guided as to what actions or inactions constitute violations of federal law, and at what level to issue citations. Citations are issued by "F-tag." Advocates may be particularly interested in those F-tags dealing with resident rights, including the nursing homes' roles concerning advance directives and do-not-resuscitate procedures. Access the guidance here.
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New York Times Publishes Series on Arbitration Clauses in Contracts
The New York Times has published a series entitled "Beware the Fine Print" on individual arbitration clauses used in contracts. Part I, "Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice," describes how "by inserting individual arbitration clauses into a soaring number of consumer and employment contracts, companies...devised a way to circumvent the courts and bar people from joining together in class-action lawsuits, realistically the only tool citizens have to fight illegal or deceitful business practices." Part II, "In Arbitration, a 'Privatization of the Justice System'" looks at specific cases where "thousands of businesses across the country...have used arbitration to create an alternate system of justice. There, rules tend to favor businesses, and judges and juries have been replaced by arbitrators who commonly consider the companies their clients."
Consumer Voice is working to ban the use of forced arbitration agreements in long-term care facility admission contracts. These types of pre-dispute arbitration agreements place consumers at a disadvantage during the admissions process, strip consumers of their constitutional right to a trial by jury, deny consumers the benefits and advantages of a court of law, and place consumers at increased risk. For more information, view the Consumer Voice webpage on this issue. Most recently, Consumer Voice, along with 38 other national advocacy organizations, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asking the agency to ban the use of pre-dispute, forced arbitration agreements in nursing home contracts. For more information about CMS' proposed rule, click here.
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Unable to Attend the 40th Anniversary Party? Send Your Message of Congrats!
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, VA
We would love to see you at our 40th Anniversary Party this Thursday! But, if you are unable to attend, congratulate the Consumer Voice on 40 years by sending a message that will be displayed during the party. Donate $40 and choose "40th Anniversary Party Congratulatory Message."
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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:
Consumer Voice Issue Brief on Pre-Dispute Arbitration - This issue brief defines pre-dispute arbitration agreements and provides an overview of why they are important to long-term care consumers.
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In this Issue
Consumer Voice Conference Registrants: We Can't Wait to See You!
Free Webinar - Put a STOP to Poor Care
CMS Issues Updated Edition of Appendix PP of State Operations Manual
New York Times Publishes Series on Arbitration Clauses in Contracts
Unable to Attend the 40th Anniversary Party? Send Your Message of Congrats!
Spotlight on Educational Resources
Workplace Giving Campaigns: A Great Way to Help Support Consumer Voice
Workplace giving, whether the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), United Way or other workplace campaigns, are great easy ways to give to Consumer Voice. Our CFC number is: 10552. In other workplace campaigns, you may be able to write in Consumer Voice or some may still recognize us as NCCNHR. As long as you provide our address, the funds will get to us.
Consumer Voice
1001 Connecticut Ave., Ste. 425
Washington, DC 20036
Look for ways that you can give back to Consumer Voice through your workplace and please ask if your employer will match your contribution. Thank you!
Get Your CARE Matters Buttons and Wristbands
CARE Matters wristbands and buttons are sold in packs of 20, 50 and 100. See the Consumer Voice online store for more information.
Calendar of Events
November 1-7: National Memory Screening Week
November 4-7: Consumer Voice 39th Annual Conference, Arlington, Virginia
Thursday, November 5: Consumer Voice's 40th Anniversary Party, 6:30pm-9:30pm, Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, VA
Wednesday, November 18: Put a STOP to Poor Care: Advocating for Quality, 3:00-4:15pm ET, Free webinar from Consumer Voice in collaboration with the National Center on Elder Abuse
Register Now for the Consumer Voice Annual Conference
November 4-7, 2015
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Remember to register and book your hotel room now! Don't miss it! Find more information on our website.
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:
Thursday, October 29:
Consumer Voice has released the "Put a STOP to Poor Care" brochure.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Thursday, October 29:
"Put a STOP to Poor Care" brochures help consumers understand quality care & advocate for themselves.
Long-Term Care Resources & News
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