National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

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National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

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The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice)'s mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports. That said, we are counting on you to follow some basic rules on our site:
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ally explicit. All such posts will be immediately deleted.
- We will delete any post that is derogatory toward an individual.
- If you have a question about an issue you are personally experiencing related to receiving quality long-term care, please contact us at [email protected] or send us a direct message. We check messages frequently and promise to respond quickly.
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- Repeat violators will be banned from the site. Complaints or questions about Facebook posts should be directed to Tina Steier at [email protected]. Consumer Voice does not sponsor or endorse any content posted on this social media site by third party users.

01/17/2025

A federal court in the District of Columbia has ruled that DC violated the rights of residents with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the class action case Brown, et al v. District of Columbia, the court found that DC failed to inform nursing facility residents that they could leave nursing facilities and receive home health services in their communities. The DC government also failed to help them access community-based services and housing options needed to transition back to the community. The ruling comes as a result of legal efforts led by attorneys from AARP Foundation with co-counsel including Disability Rights D.C. at University Legal Services and the law firms of Arent Fox, LLP, and Terris Pravlik & Millian.

WASHINGTON— Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a resounding judgment in the class action case Brown, et al v. District of Columbia, finding that the District of...

01/16/2025

On November 18, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released revised guidance to nursing home surveyors. Read Consumer Voice’s detailed explanation of these updates:https://theconsumervoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Summary-of-Revised-CMS-Guidance-for-Surveyors.pdf

Register for the webinar next Wednesday on the topic: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_18df-Ik_QlGTL6tEfcJVVw #/registration

01/16/2025

On November 18, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released revised guidance to nursing home surveyors. These important revisions address several areas, including:
- Prohibitions on third-party financial guarantees.
- Inappropriate transfers and discharges.
- Unnecessary use of psychotropic medications.
- Misdiagnosing residents with schizophrenia.

Join us on Wednesday, January 22, for a webinar detailing these and other important updates and how they will affect the lives of those living in long-term care facilities. We will be joined by Toby Edelman from for Medicare Advocacy and Eric Carlson from Justice In Aging .
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_18df-Ik_QlGTL6tEfcJVVw #/registration

01/16/2025

Visit Consumer Voice's newly redesigned website! The website features a fresh, modern design; a renewed emphasis on Consumer Voice’s mission and vision; a library of resources for individuals receiving long-term care, their families, and for other advocates; and dedicated spaces for getting involved to make a difference on these important issues. Visit https://theconsumervoice.org/

12/24/2024

12/21/2024

As you're visiting your loved one in a long-term care facility over the holidays, celebrate the special time together and also take a moment to observe them and their surroundings. You’ll want to note any changes in your loved one’s appearance or demeanor. Consider these suggestions of what to look for, questions to ask, and what you can do if you have concerns about their condition.

12/20/2024

Listen to the most recent podcast episode with Justice In Aging's Eric Carlson and National Consumer Law Center's Anna Anderson : https://theconsumervoice.org/news/episode-52-third-party-guarantees-what-to-do-when-a-nursing-home-tries-to-make-you-financially-responsible-for-someone-elses-stay/

12/18/2024

It is incontrovertible that better staffing leads to better outcomes. We cannot let last minute backdoor deals put nursing home residents at risk. It is critical that you reach out to your members of Congress and tell them to reject any end-of-the-year deal that rescinds or delays the minimum staffing rule. Send a message now: https://secure2.convio.net/tncv/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app20076b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=215

12/17/2024

Check out the new https://theconsumervoice.org!
https://youtu.be/zJUvOgeEmg8?si=HPRyiVEeqUVHoJ3D

theconsumervoice.org

12/16/2024

Fresh design, enhanced search, accessibility tools and more on our newly redesigned website: https://theconsumervoice.org/

12/14/2024

Consumer Voice has take several recent actions in support of the minimum staffing standard in nursing homes.

Consumer Voice, along with several other nursing home resident and worker advocacy groups, filed amicus briefs in support of the recently finalized minimum staffing rule, in two different lawsuits. Read more: https://theconsumervoice.org/news/consumer-voice-files-amicus-briefs-in-support-of-minimum-staffing-rule-in-nursing-homes/

The threats to the rule are not only in the courts. Currently, Congress is negotiating an end-of-the-year deal, and some in Congress are proposing to rescind or delay the minimum staffing rule as part of this deal. On December 5, 2024, Consumer Voice along with other advocacy organizations sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to reject any end-of-the-year deals that would result in the minimum staffing rule in nursing homes being repealed. Read more: https://theconsumervoice.org/news/consumer-voice-sends-letter-to-congress-urging-them-to-reject-any-end-of-year-deals-that-would-repeal-staffing-rule/

Over the past two weeks, Consumer Voice, along with several other nursing home resident and worker advocacy groups, filed amicus briefs in support of the recently finalized minimum staffing rule,...

12/13/2024

A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. Although federal law and regulation prohibit the use of third party guarantees, some nursing homes may still attempt to get you to sign documents making you financially responsible for a nursing home stay. Join us for a conversation with experts Anna Anderson and Eric Carlson as they guide you through what you can do if a nursing home tries to hold you financially liable for someone else's nursing home stay.

Listen on:

>Spotify: https://bit.ly/3ZPwUbP
>Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3DbI3ux
>SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/rwMq8xSn7Y3jBLv8A
>YouTube: https://youtu.be/tV33mF6Qouc
>Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

12/13/2024

It takes just two minutes to send your members of Congress a message: https://secure2.convio.net/tncv/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app20076b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=215

12/12/2024

Support our work: https://theconsumervoice.org/donate

12/05/2024

Consumer Voice has had the pleasure to work with an outstanding intern this fall. His skills and knowledge have helped us enormously as we build our organization and address the serious and complex issues facing long-term care residents. We would like to thank Kewan for his dedicated work and advocacy representing the interests of long-term care residents.

Kewan Perera is a Master of Arts candidate in Public Management at Johns Hopkins University, specializing in public policy and economics. After graduating in May 2025, he plans to further his studies with a second Master’s degree in Public Policy and AI Governance at his alma mater, McMaster University.

As a Public Policy Intern at Consumer Voice, Kewan is researching how related party transactions in Michigan’s for-profit nursing homes divert taxpayer funds from resident care. His analysis focuses on financial practices, their impact on staff wages and care quality, and policy recommendations to improve accountability and transparency.

Thank you, Kewan!

12/03/2024

Today on GivingTuesday, December 3, 2024, Consumer Voice joins people all around the world to reimagine a world built on shared humanity and generosity.

Make a donation: https://theconsumervoice.org/donate

12/03/2024

Learn about the past, present, and future of the long-term care Ombudsman program in an article by The National LTC Ombudsman Resource Center's Carol Scott, published by American Society on Aging

How the LTCOP came about and the challenges it faces.

11/29/2024

A recent article in the Heath Affairs Scholar found that mortality rates among nursing home residents remained above pre-pandemic levels through the end of 2023. While COVID-19 was the significant driver of increased mortality since the beginning of the pandemic, the authors noted the difficulty of determining mortality causes, and instead focused on mortality from all-causes. The mortality rate per 100,000 residents was 5,692 in December 2020, when COVID-19 was taking its greatest toll on nursing home residents, according to the new article. The authors compared this to the pre-pandemic mortality rate trend, which they estimated would have been roughly 3,500 per 100,000, in December 2020, should COVID-19 not occurred. In November 2023, the mortality rate for nursing home residents was 4,000 per 100,000 residents, still roughly 500 more residents per month, when compared to pre-pandemic trends. In sum, more residents were dying monthly in late 2023 than pre-pandemic mortality trends.
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/article/2/11/qxae126/7900538

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Videos

Third Party Guarantees: What to Do When a Nursing Home Tries to Make You Financially Responsible for Someone Else’s Stay

A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. Although federal law and regulation prohibit the use of third party guarantees, some nursing homes may still attempt to get you to sign documents making you financially responsible for a nursing home stay. Join us for a conversation with experts Anna Anderson and Eric Carlson as they guide you through what you can do if a nursing home tries to hold you financially liable for someone else's nursing home stay. Listen on: >Spotify: https://bit.ly/3ZPwUbP >Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3DbI3ux >SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/rwMq8xSn7Y3jBLv8A >YouTube: https://youtu.be/tV33mF6Qouc >Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Keeping Safe: A CDC Update on Respiratory Season for Nursing Homes

Listen to a new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast on respiratory illnesses. During this time of year nursing homes can expect to see an increase in people visiting their loved ones. This increase puts everyone at a higher risk of catching a cold or respiratory illnesses. Join us for a conversation as we dive into the latest CDC guidance on respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, for nursing home residents. We are joined by Dr. Erika Wallender from the CDC, and Lori Walsh, Consumer Voice Policy and Program Specialist, to discuss practical steps in reducing infection risks and best practices for staying safe during this upcoming respiratory season. We also remind residents and their families of their rights and protections while navigating life in a nursing home. Listen on: >Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Zdiodu >Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3AL1xWf >SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/jdebfJVWveiWLgkE9 >YouTube: https://youtu.be/6TCGGMTX_5M >Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Voting Access for Long-Term Care Consumers

Election season is an exciting time that offers a renewed opportunity to shape public policy. For many long-term care residents, voting is a patriotic duty that has been respected and exercised over the course of their lifetime. Residents of long-term care have the same right to vote as everyone else. Join us for a conversation with Gwen Orlowski, Executive Director of Disability Rights New Jersey to discuss how residents and their families can ensure their voices are heard in the upcoming elections. Listen on: > Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3XoanBS > Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Mkx7fJ > SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/REN4RgrstN8z4xMu5 > YouTube: https://youtu.be/RKrljp8MVuE > Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Don't Drag My Resident into Court: The Impact of Guardianship on Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities

NEW PODCAST! Listen to a new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast on guardianship. Guardianship is a tool intended to support individuals who have lost the capacity to make decisions for themselves. However, guardianship is an extreme step and can have a devastating impact on a person's well-being. In this episode, we will discuss guardianship over residents of long-term care facilities, less restrictive alternatives, and strategies for supporting residents under guardianship. Guests: Alison Hirschel, Director of the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, and Emily Miller, Managing Attorney of the Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project of the Michigan Advocacy Program Listen on: >Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cugqde >Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4cIaFs2 >SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/iDgHuNvjAJ9dQYvZ7 >YouTube: https://youtu.be/DkLqTwRic5Y >Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Addressing Concerns About Retaliation

NEW PODCAST! A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. In this episode, join us for a conversation on retaliation in long-term care facilities. We will be talking to an Ombudsman, a long-term care resident, and a gerontologist as we discuss how to identify retaliation, action steps to take when it does occur, and how to advocate to prevent retaliation from happening in the future. Listen on: > Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45w54Tf > Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3xqVTXw > SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/YPjQaLSr99y8yQPd9 > YouTube: https://youtu.be/qXLqiN_nP9w > Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Understanding the Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Rule

In April 2024, a new federal rule requiring minimum staffing levels in nursing homes was released. This rule is an important step toward improving quality conditions in nursing homes and ensuring that residents receive the care they need. Listen in on a discussion between Consumer Voice's Lori Smetanka and Sam Brooks, who talk about the importance of the rule, what it says, and how we can start thinking about using it in advocating for quality care. Subscribe and listen to the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast on: > Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45bqHrO > Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3KuP623 > YouTube: https://youtu.be/8OMOxRbgvFA > SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/3xX9wwiM2pyF3MP3A > Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Resident Dialogue on Staffing

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s (CMS) new minimum staffing standard requires facilities to provide 3.48 hours of care per resident per day. That translates into three hours and 29 minutes of care over 24 hours for each resident. This number is lower than what Consumer Voice and other consumer advocates, nursing professionals, and nursing home residents have been advocating for, for years. This number is lower than what studies have shown, for decades, will keep nursing home residents safe, but it will still raise staffing levels at many facilities. In this episode, you will hear an important conversation between four nursing home residents about their personal experiences with understaffing, their thoughts on the new minimum staffing standard released by CMS, and their plans for advocating for themselves and others moving forward. The residents in this conversation are all part of Consumer Voice’s Consumer Advisory Council and we are grateful they made the time to share their thoughts with us. Listen on: > SoundCloud - https://on.soundcloud.com/1hZpvxPCUmvoEsvT6 > Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4bDN8bB > Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/4bBBa1T > YouTube - https://youtu.be/XCiscu90WNc > Website - https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Resident Conversation FB Live

Celebrating Volunteers in the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Every April, organizations across the country take the time to celebrate and thank their volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of many Long-term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOP). With the help of volunteers, the Ombudsman program can have a regular presence in facilities and stay in touch with residents. Volunteers lend their time, talent, and voice to make a difference in their communities and the LTCOP could not be its best without the volunteers who help carry out the mission of advocating for long-term care residents. In this episode, the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) talks to a certified volunteer from New Jersey about her experience and dedicated advocacy. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) also joins to honor the over 4,000 people who serve as Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteers. These specially trained volunteers visit nursing homes and residential care communities to advocate with and for the residents living there. By visiting on a regular basis, volunteers get to know residents and gain their trust to better assist them in resolving issues or complaints to help ensure they receive quality long-term care. Listen on: > Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dafv1Z > Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3w8wpO3 > SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/tsoPKeM2C5tPqdjU7 > YouTube: https://youtu.be/k3ZAx_iVvMY > Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. Since the pandemic began, there has been significant efforts by advocates to create better laws and regulations to protect nursing home residents. The pandemic and its devastating impact on nursing home residents has resulted in many states passing new laws or creating new regulations regarding a variety of areas, including staffing, transparency, and the nursing home workforce. On this episode, you will hear from two advocates that have been successful in getting new laws and regulations passed and promulgated. Tony Chicotel, Senior Staff Attorney at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and Pam Walz, Supervising Attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, will discuss recent legislative and regulatory victories and how they helped ensure they were implemented. Listen on: > Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Q0xlLb > Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3TXAHzK > SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/URW4J9c4Boha3jB57 > YouTube: https://youtu.be/XsFAJfwoiNM > Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

How Existing Legal Authorities Can Help Fix America's Nursing Home Crisis

A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. Often the conversation about addressing the chronic poor care that exists in far too many of today's nursing homes is framed around new laws or regulations. Yet, there are steps that can be taken now - using existing federal and state legal authority - to improve care and conditions in our country's nursing homes. In our conversation, we will discuss four levers of opportunity for increasing quality and accountability in nursing homes with Nina Kohn, an attorney, law school professor, and the author of "Using What We Have: How Existing Legal Authorities Can Help Fix America's Nursing Home Crisis." Listen on: > Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4acKpoS > Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4aoZVOB > SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/6TMu3NPqeDAS1a377 > YouTube: https://youtu.be/YkZzc6Z_WtU > Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality

Family Caregivers and Family Councils: Essential Partners for Quality Care

A new episode of Consumer Voice's podcast, Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care, is now available. In this episode we talk to Marcella Goheen, a family member and advocate, about how families can individually and collectively, through family councils, be a strong voice for quality and for change in nursing homes. Listen on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42KpZAB Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3T2Kjd7 SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/6UhXt YouTube: https://youtu.be/6VrlwGvPwoU Website: https://theconsumervoice.org/pursuingquality