About the Consumer Voice

For up-to-date information on Consumer Voice's most recent activities, read the weekly e-newsletter, The Voice.

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care was formed as NCCNHR (National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform) in 1975 because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes. Consumer Voice is the outgrowth of work first achieved by advocates working for Ralph Nader and later for the National Gray Panthers. Elma Holder, NCCNHR founder, was working with The Long-Term Care Action Project of the Gray Panthers when she organized a group meeting of advocates from across the country to attend a nursing home industry conference in Washington, DC. At that meeting, representatives of 12 citizen action groups spoke collectively to the industry about the need for serious reform in nursing home conditions.

The consumer attendees were inspired to develop a platform of common concerns and motivated to form a new organization to represent the consumer voice at the national level. Most of the original members had witnessed and endured personal experiences with substandard nursing home conditions.

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Our Vision & Mission

Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and Ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual.

To carry out our mission, we:

• Advocate for public policies that support quality care and quality of life responsive to consumers’ needs in all long-term care settings
• Empower and educate consumers and families with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for themselves
• Train and support individuals and groups that empower and advocate for consumers of long-term care
• Promote the critical role of direct-care workers and best practices in quality-care delivery

Consumer Voice envisions a world in which all consumers of long-term care, services and supports are treated with respect and dignity and have a wide range of affordable, quality options across all settings. These options will make it possible for individuals to receive care and services in the location and manner of their choice and to attain a high quality of life.

Hear the voice of consumers - listen to stories directly from long-term care consumers.