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October 10, 2017

Full Agenda Available for Consumer Voice Conference

Do not miss all of the exciting sessions at this year's Consumer Voice Conference!  Session titles include:

  • Something Wrong is Going On: Responding to Sexual Abuse
  • The Administration for Community Living: Priorities and Next Steps featuring special guest speaker Lance Robertson, Administrator, Administration for Community Living/Assistant Secretary, Administration on Aging
  • A Dialogue with Consumers: It's All About Me: My Life, My Care, My Choices
  • Moving Forward with Changes in the Nursing Home Regulatory Process: What You Need to Know
  • Achieving the Promise of the Nursing Home Reform Law 30 Years Later: Moving Forward Together - closing plenary on Capitol Hill

See the complete agenda here.

REMINDER - regular registration ends this Friday, October 13th! Register by Friday to receive up to $55 off late registration.

The hotel block ends TODAY.  The room block at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel is full, but we have provided additional rooms in the block at the Residence Inn, located directly next door, accessible via indoor hallway.  Book your room today to ensure you get our conference rate!

These deadlines will not be extended so register and book your hotel room ASAP!

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Learn More About the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center

Join NORC for a free webinar on Wednesday, October 18th at 2:00pm ET entitled "Exploring the Resources and Supports of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center."  This webinar will introduce participants to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s Paralysis Resource Center (PRC), a comprehensive national source of free information, services and programs for individuals with paralysis and their families and caregivers. The PRC provides information on paralysis caused by any condition, including spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, and cerebral palsy.

Participants will learn about the PRC’s Information Specialists, who are available to answer questions about living with paralysis and assist with locating resources, and the Peer & Family Support Program, a national mentoring program for people living with paralysis and their family members. The written materials available through the PRC will be discussed as well as the resources available on the Reeve Foundation’s website. The PRC’s Military & Veterans Program, national lending library and online community will also be highlighted.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Register Now!

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Emergency Preparedness and Natural Disasters Resources from Justice in Aging

Justice in Aging has released two new resources regarding emergency preparedness and planning for natural disasters.  The fact sheet "Harvey, Irma and Medicare: Information for Advocates in Texas and Florida" provides information about access to services following the hurricanes.  The fact sheet compiles Medicare measures most directly related to beneficiary access, looking at areas where rules are being waived and where limits to flexibility remain.  The fact sheet covers the following topics: durable medical equipment covered by Medicare; replacement prescription fills; waiver of three-day hospital stay requirement for skilled nursing facility coverage; and use of out-of-network providers in Medicare Advantage.

The second resource, an issue brief entitled "Why Many Nursing Facilities Are Not Ready for Emergency Situations," provides recommendations to address gaps in current laws regarding emergency preparedness in nursing facilities.  The issue brief offers the following recommendations:

  1. The federal government should clearly require emergency generators sufficient to maintain safe temperatures.
  2. Federal and/or state governments should require advance coordination among facilities, other healthcare providers, and relevant government agencies.
  3. Federal and/or state governments should require contractual arrangements for evacuation procedures.
  4. Local communities should maintain relevant information on an ongoing, community-wide basis.
  5. Government agencies or provider associations should develop resources to assist in emergency plan development.
  6. Federal and/or state governments should require review of emergency plans by knowledgeable agencies or persons.
  7. Federal surveyors should assess meaningful sanctions for violations of emergency preparedness requirements.

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House Passes Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act

After passing the Senate in August, last week the House passed the Grassley-Blumenthal “Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act”.  The bill will now go to the President's desk for signature.  The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act  would improve the nation’s response to elder abuse and financial exploitation of seniors. It does so by encouraging the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators who prey upon seniors, enhancing data collection, and supporting robust elder abuse prevention programs. Read the bill here.

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Issue Alert from LTCCC on Pressure Ulcers

The Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) is launching a new series of monthly Issue Alerts.  Each Issue Alert will focus on a specific issue of concern to long-term care consumers, with particular focus on residents in nursing homes and other residential care settings.  The first Issue Alert covers pressure ulcers. The Alert provides information on the dangers of pressure ulcers for nursing home residents, mandatory standards of care for preventing and treating pressure ulcers, the prevalence of pressure ulcers, how to find more information about pressure ulcer rates in nursing homes in your state, and where to find more help on the issue.

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Spotlight on Resources

The Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) 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:

Updated LTCOP Organizational Conflicts of Interest - NORC updated the four charts,  “LTCOP Organizational Conflict of Interest – Examples of Identification” and “LTCOP Organizational Conflicts of Interest – Examples of Remedies & Removal” for the Office of the State Ombudsman and Local Ombudsman Entities. These charts are now combined to provide examples of how to identify and remedy organizational conflicts of interest all in one place.

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In this Issue

Full Agenda Available for Consumer Voice Conference

Learn More About the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center

Emergency Preparedness and Natural Disasters Resources from Justice in Aging

House Passes Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act

Issue Alert from LTCCC on Pressure Ulcers


Spotlight on Resources


Combined Federal Campaign

#10552

Thank you for your support!


Resident's Voice Featured Entries

Throughout Residents' Rights Month, we will be highlighting selected entries to the Resident's Voice Challenge on our website homepage and social media.  We have received many very thoughtful entries; be sure to read/watch them all.

This week's featured entry comes to us from residents at Colonial Parks in Rome, NY.  Watch their video:

Advocates are holding events across the country to celebrate Residents' Rights Month.  Check out what's going on here.  Let us know what you have planned by emailing info@theconsumervoice.org.


Calendar of Events

September 15 - October 15, 2017: National Hispanic Heritage Month

October: Residents' Rights Month

Wednesday, October 18: Exploring the Resources and Supports of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center, 2:00pm ET, NORC Webinar

November 5-8, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA


Join the conversation and follow us on social media!

Last Week's Most Popular Post:

Wednesday, October 4:
After passing the Senate in August, yesterday the House passed the Grassley-Blumenthal "Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act."

Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:

Wednesday, October 4:

The House passed the "Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act" which would improve response to elder abuse


Long-Term Care Resources & News



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About The Voice

The Voice is a weekly e-newsletter, published by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, please unsubscribe below. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to info@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2017.

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Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual. Consumer Voice's mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports.


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