November 17, 2020

In this Issue:

1. ABA Commission on Law and Aging Publishes WINGS Briefing Paper
   
2. Webinar from National Center on Law & Elder Rights on LTSS Policy Changes in Response to COVID-19
   
3. Share Your Experience Visiting a Long-Term Care Facility
   
4. Webinar on Applying Evidence to Inform State Responses to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
   
5. NAPSA Webinar on the DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline
   
6. COVID-19 Resources for Residents of Long-Term Care and Their Families
   

ABA Commission on Law and Aging Publishes WINGS Briefing Paper
The Commission on Law and Aging of the American Bar Association have published a "WINGS Briefing Paper: Advancing Guardianship Reform and Promoting Less Restrictive Options.” WINGS (Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders) work to improve guardianship systems in 25 states across the country. In 2016, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) awarded the Commission on Law and Aging an Elder Justice Innovation Grant Award to establish, enhance, and expand state WINGS programs. The Commission funded seven state WINGS pilot programs in Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah.

The WINGS Briefing Paper presents the Commission’s project findings and conclusions about WINGS and (1) describes the challenges of adult guardianship reform and the rationale for creating WINGS; (2) discusses the potential for applying a national Court Improvement Program model to the adult guardianship system; and (3) makes recommendations for next steps in federal policy.

Read the WINGS Briefing Paper.

Webinar from National Center on Law & Elder Rights on LTSS Policy Changes in Response to COVID-19
Join the National Center on Law & Elder Rights for a webinar on Friday, November 20th at 1:00pm ET entitled LTSS Policy Changes in Response to COVID-19.  As the COVID-19 emergency lingers, federal and state governments continue to adjust. This webinar will discuss recent changes relating to older adults, Medicaid, and long-term services and supports. Among other things, the webinar will cover the ability to receive visitors in nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities, with a focus on recent federal guidance, as well as access to support persons in hospitals. Other topics will include Medicaid changes to emergency eligibility protections, modifications to programs for home and community-based services, and vaccine distribution.

Register for the webinar.

Share Your Experience Visiting a Long-Term Care Facility
As many facilities across the country begin to allow visitation, many families will be seeing their loved ones in person for the first time in nearly six months. Consumer Voice would like to hear from you about your visits and about how your loved one is managing during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Despite the guidance issued in September by the Centers of Medicare & Mediciad Services (CMS), many states are still prohibiting visitation.  If you were prevented from visiting your loved one, we want to hear from you, as well. Consumer Voice is seeking your input so that we may use it to advocate, at the state and federal levels, on behalf of  residents for the implementation of current visitation requirements and for the expansion of access to their loved ones.

Fill out our reentry survey to share your experience.

Webinar on Applying Evidence to Inform State Responses to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

Join Mathematica and a panel of experts from across the country for a webinar on Tuesday, December 1st at 2:00pm ET "Applying Evidence to Inform State Responses to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Settings."  The webinar will share the latest evidence on how COVID-19 has affected nursing home residents and how evidence can be used to inform policy recommendations for state regulators, agency and long-term care industry executives, legislators, and other key stakeholders. Panelists will discuss testing approaches for residents and staff; the role of nursing home staffing in mitigating the impact of COVID-19; how nursing homes and their state regulators should balance resident health and safety to reduce social isolation; and how states might set up their reporting systems to ensure they have real-time data to identify and control hot spots.

Register for the webinar.

NAPSA Webinar on the DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline

Join the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) for a webinar on Thursday, December 10th at 2:00pm ET "Providing Help, Restoring Hope: The U.S. Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline." Financial exploitation and scams aimed at older adults result in the loss of billions of dollars every year. These crimes often go unreported because victims are scared, embarrassed, or don’t know who to call. The U.S. Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, provides services to adults age 60 and older who experience fraud and exploitation to help them report the crime and access appropriate resources. This webinar from NAPSA's Regional Representatives Advisory Board will offer an overview of the hotline and answer frequently asked questions about the available services.

Register for the webinar.

COVID-19 Resources for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities and Their Families

Visit Consumer Voice's resource page about COVID-19 for residents of long-term care facilities and their family members.  Our webpage provides information and resources on the latest policy and facility requirements,  advocating for quality care and quality of life, what to look for when visiting a long-term care facility, supporting your loved one living in long-term care, and more.  Watch webinars, get fact sheets, and find answers.