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June 22, 2021

In this Issue:

  1. New Consumer Voice Report on Nursing Home Immunity
  2. Registration Now Open for Consumer Voice Annual Conference
  3. Materials Available from NORC Webinar on Resuming In-Person Visits During COVID-19
  4. Article Presents Data on Nursing Home Staffing and Ways to Eliminate Inequities in Care
  5. Avoiding Drugs as Chemical Restraints: Changing the Culture of Care

New Consumer Voice Report on Nursing Home Immunity

Since the very beginning of the pandemic, the nursing home industry has lobbied governors and state legislatures to sign executive orders or pass laws that prevent residents from holding nursing homes accountable in court. The industries lobbying efforts have been effective, with 39 states providing some kind of immunity to nursing homes.  As a result of these executive orders and laws, tens of thousands of nursing home residents now reside in facilities where negligent care will likely be excused by courts.  Consumer Voice has created a report detailing the status of immunity in every state along with information on the law or executive order. 

Read the report. 

View a spreadsheet documenting each state's actions.

Registration Now Open for Consumer Voice Annual Conference

Join us November 3-5, 2021 as we go virtual for the Consumer Voice Annual Conference! Expert speakers, the most up-to-date policy information, best practices shared from across the country, and networking with a community of other long-term care advocates - our virtual conference will include the same great content you expect from a Consumer Voice Conference with unique opportunities to connect online.

Registration for the conference includes three full days of LIVE programming plus 30 days of access to the recorded sessions after the event.

Session Topics to Include:

  • Finding a new systems approach to ombudsman advocacy
  • A look at state surveys: what residents, families, and advocates should expect
  • Family advocacy during COVID-19
  • What advocates should know and do about the direct care workforce crisis
  • Building a state advocacy organization
  • Addressing inequities and disparities of care
  • Preventing neglect and abuse of residents
  • Strengthening the caregiving team
  • Improving guardianship policy and practice
  • Increasing outreach to the LGBTQ community
  • Train the Trainer: a new curriculum for Long-Term Care Ombudsmen
  • Pushing for transformational change

and more ...

Learn More about the Conference & Register

Materials Available from NORC Webinar on Resuming In-Person Visits During COVID-19

Materials are available from last Friday's webinar from the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) - "Resuming In-Person Visits During COVID-19: Tips for Identifying Trauma, Potential Abuse, and Supporting Residents."  In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), this webinar discussed how to identify and respond to signs of trauma and potential abuse or neglect and support residents as Ombudsman programs resume in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a national and international expert on elder abuse and neglect, provided tips for Ombudsman programs conducting in-person visits, such as signs of trauma in response to isolation and loss during the pandemic and potential signs of abuse and neglect.

Get the Webinar Materials

Article Presents Data on Nursing Home Staffing and Ways to Eliminate Inequities in Care

An article, published in the Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, provides information on nursing home staffing and a perspective on the policies that can best protect nursing home residents.  "Time to Ensure Sufficient Nursing Home Staffing and Eliminate Inequities in Care" presents data that inadequate nurse staffing levels and high staff turnover rates are the fundamental underlying causes of poor quality care in many nursing homes. Understaffing and turnover, especially at for-profit companies and homes with Private Equity investors, have resulted in unnecessary infections and deaths before and during the pandemic. The poor care has resulted in wide inequities for racial and ethnic minorities and residents on Medicaid as well as disparities for racial and ethnic minority staff. Solutions to these chronic challenges and poor performance are offered in the article.

Read the article.

Everyone who enters a nursing home deserves quality, person-centered care. Too many residents, however, particularly those living with dementia, are being given off-label antipsychotic drugs to control their behavior instead of quality care. These drugs can have serious, life threatening side effects for older people.  Learn more and find resources from our consumer education campaign -
Avoiding Drugs as Chemical Restraints: Changing the Culture of Care
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