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December 17, 2019
In this Issue:
- Consumer Voice Webinar Thursday on Avoiding Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs
- Action Planning with and for Persons Living with Dementia Learning Exercise from Splaine Consulting
- Senators Collins and Casey Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Older Americans Act
- Help Us Stand for Quality in 2020
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 Consumer Voice Webinar Thursday on Avoiding Use of Antipsychotic Drugs
Join
us for a webinar Thursday, December 19th at 2:00pm ET "Avoiding
Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs: Knowing Your Rights." It’s
well documented that the use of antipsychotic drugs, when prescribed for
elderly persons with dementia, can have serious medical complications,
including increased risk of injury, harm, and death. So what can an
individual, or their family member do, if they have questions or
concerns about the use of these drugs? When is their use warranted (hint
– there’s a clinical diagnosis) and when is it inappropriate? Join our
conversation about individual rights related to the use of antipsychotic
drugs, providing informed consent, and hear a family member’s
perspective about the impact of these drugs. We’ll also share resources
and tips on getting individualized care, and where to go for help or
more information. Register »
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Action Planning with and for Persons Living Alone with Dementia Learning Exercise from Splaine Consulting
Splaine Consulting has introduced APPLAWD: Action Planning with and for Persons Living Alone with Dementia, a four-session learning and planning exercise guided by content matter experts and facilitators with a track record of leading processes that create engagement and action. More than 1 million people with Alzheimer's or a related dementia live alone. APPLAWD is the next logical step for community agencies that have identified the issue of persons living alone with dementia as an area of focus, allowing them to take leadership and move toward solutions that will improve the lives of these individuals. Read the Splaine Consulting newsletter for more info »
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Senators Collins and Casey Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Older Americans Act
U.S.
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA) have introduced the
Modernization of the Older Americans Act Amendments. Their legislation
would reauthorize and strengthen the Older Americans Act (OAA). OAA, enacted in 1965, is the primary vehicle for
services and funding in every state that support the dignity and welfare
of individuals age 60 and older. These services include
home-and-community based services; nutritional programs; health
promotion and disease prevention activities for seniors; and programs
that protect vulnerable seniors, such as the long-term care ombudsman
program. Long-term care consumers benefit greatly from provisions
included in OAA. “For more than half a century, the
Older Americans Act has served as a lifeline for millions of seniors by
enriching their lives and improving their overall health,” said Senator
Collins. “The bipartisan legislation we introduced today will help
ensure that the OAA continues to match the goals we set to permit
seniors to age with dignity, respect, and community." Read the press release »
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Help Us Stand for Quality in 2020
Too many residents are not experiencing quality care or quality of life. We know this to be true as we talk to residents and families, hear from advocates, and read the reports and articles. But, Consumer Voice won’t stop advocating until each individual is experiencing the quality care they deserve.
Over this past year, Consumer Voice has:
- Testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging
- Submitted comments on proposed changes to nursing home rules, as well as provided sample comments for the Consumer Voice network
- Participated in stakeholder group discussions with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Presented before the Elder Justice Coordinating Council
- Provided recommendations to staff developing legislation
- Coordinated discussion between residents and federal officials
- Hosted an Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill
We need your support to increase our advocacy for quality long-term care in 2020. What can you do to help?
Together, as we Stand for Quality, we can achieve the promise of quality care and quality of life for each individual needing care! Learn more »
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