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October 3, 2023
In this Issue:
- Fact Sheet: Advocating for Rights and Better Care in Nursing Homes
- One-Pager on Non-Profit vs For-Profit Nursing Home Staffing
- October is Residents' Rights Month
- New Podcast Episode on Amplifying the Voices of Long-Term Care Residents Through Advocacy
- New Investigative Report Looks at State of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in New Jersey Nursing Homes
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Fact Sheet: Advocating for Rights and Better Care in Nursing Homes
Consumer Voice's new fact sheet, Advocating for Rights and Better Care in Nursing Homes, provides tips for resident and families for advocating for change in their nursing facilities and advocacy strategies for impacting long-term care policy. Nursing home residents have the right to quality, person-centered care. But too often, residents find themselves in situations where their rights are being violated and their needs are not being met. It is important to know the steps you can take to advocate for yourself or your loved one when this happens. If things go wrong, there are specific actions you can and should take to try and change the situation within the facility. There are also ways to advocate for change on a broader level outside of the facility.
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One-Pager on Non-Profit vs For-Profit Nursing Home Staffing
Since President Biden announced the implementation of a minimum staffing standard in February 2022, the nursing home industry has voiced strong opposition, claiming that it would be unable to meet a staffing standard. Now that the proposed rule has been announced, the for-profit lobbying industry has intensified their rhetoric, stating the whole system might collapse.
Yet, if you look closely at the current staffing data, you see that thousands of non-profit nursing homes across the country are providing staffing that exceeds the proposed CMS standard. What separates them from the for-profit industry is that they are not profit driven. The data demonstrate that for-profit nursing homes purposefully understaff their facilities, diverting funds to other purposes, including profits.
Read our one-pager about how non-profit homes staff, on average, 23% higher than for-profit homes.
Use our step-by-step instructions for commenting on the proposed minimum staffing standard.
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October is Residents' Rights Month
 October 1st marked the beginning of a month-long celebration of residents' rights. Spend time this month honoring residents living in all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, sub-acute units, assisted living, board and care, and retirement communities. Plus, take time to focus on individuals receiving care in their homes or communities.
This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme - Amplify Our Voices - emphasizes a community of long-term care residents coming together to make their voices heard. Amplifying your voice means being outspoken about your preferences and choices, and sharing who you are and your experiences. Residents’ voices are the most important at the decision-making table - your story deserves to be told!
Visit the Consumer Voice website for promotional materials and resources and to view entries to the Resident's Voice Challenge.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter all month long with #ResidentsRightsMonth and #AmplifyOurVoices
What do you have planned for Residents' Rights Month? Send photos and details to info@theconsumervoice.org.
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New Podcast Episode on Amplifying the Voices of Long-Term Care Residents Through Advocacy
In a new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast, Consumer Voice spoke with two State Ombudsmen, Kelly Richards (Illinois) and Mairead Painter (Connecticut), who shared their experiences of amplifying the voices of long-term care consumers in their advocacy work. Kelly and Mairead discuss a variety of ways that long-term care consumers in their states have advocated to make positive change, including using the media, working with legislators, and sharing their personal experiences and stories. Kelly and Mairead also talked about actions Ombudsman program representatives can take to incorporate the voices of residents in their own advocacy.
Listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, SoundCoud, Facebook or our website.
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New Investigative Report Looks at State of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in New Jersey Nursing Homes
Disability Rights New Jersey has published a new report, "Person First," an investigative report about the current state of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in New Jersey nursing homes. The report analyzes whether nursing homes have replaced Developmental Centers as the default institutional setting for people with IDD, and whether the State is using all available federal laws including PASRR and the person-centered planning rights in the federal HCBS Settings rule to develop and execute a comprehensive, effective Olmstead plan. The report also looked closely at whether people with IDD who need the services of a nursing home and chose to live in that institutional setting are receiving the specialized services they are entitled to receive.
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