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Specialized Information for:
Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocatesCOVID-19
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Specialized Information for:
Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocatesCOVID-19
November 23, 2021
Together, we can pursue and promote policies that support residents, caregivers, and staff; improve transparency and accountability for public funds; and upend the long-term care system to be more consumer centered.
November 19, 2021
The United States House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act which includes the most significant increase in protections for nursing home residents in decades.
November 18, 2021
Read our summary of the main takeaways in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service’s recently updated Nursing Home Visitation Guidance.
November 17, 2021
Congress needs to hear directly from residents, families and their advocates that the staffing provisions must be included because adequate staffing is the key to safety and quality of care.
November 16, 2021
The guidance relaxes requirements regarding infection control surveys, clarifies timing on annual recertification surveys, addresses the complaint backlog, and announces increased survey scrutiny in particular areas of care quality.
November 16, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the latest list of Special Focus Facilities (SFF) and candidates (October 27, 2021). CMS oversees the SFF program, which places special scrutiny on select nursing homes with a documented pattern of providing poor care.
November 15, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have updated their nursing home visitation guidance to now allow visitation at all times for all residents.
November 09, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an emergency regulation requiring long term care facilities to develop and implement policies to ensure all staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
November 05, 2021
A provision to require at least one registered nurse 24 hours a day has been added to the four critical provisions included in the most recent version of the Build Back Better Act. Contact your members of Congress to ensure all provisions will be included.
October 29, 2021
Congress has heard your voice! Important nursing home provisions were included in the most recent version of the Build Back Better Act. However, the inclusion of the provisions in the final bill is not ensured.
October 29, 2021
Consumer Voice sent a letter asking Congressional leaders to ensure that protections for nursing home residents continue to be included in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill.
October 21, 2021
Contact Your Congressmembers and Tell Them to Support Protections for Nursing Home Residents
October 19, 2021
In this episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast, we are sharing with you a discussion that was held on Facebook Live around residents’ rights in nursing homes.
October 19, 2021
Consumer Voice Executive Director Lori Smetanka wrote an article for American Society on Aging’s Generations publication highlighting the spike in misuse of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes.
October 18, 2021
The October 2021 issue of the Resident Advocate Newsletter is now available.
October 13, 2021
Consumer Voice and 68 national and state organizations sent a letter to House leadership urging them to retain critical protections for nursing home residents in the Budget Reconciliation bill.
October 12, 2021
NORC and Consumer Voice published new consumer education materials regarding nursing home residents’ rights.
September 21, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today a new feature on Medicare Care Compare that will make it easier to check COVID-19 vaccination rates for nursing home staff and residents.
September 09, 2021
Reach out to your Representatives to tell them to support nursing home provisions and Elder Justice Act provisions in the current budget and reconciliation package.
September 01, 2021
Consumer Voice submitted comments to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) in support of the proposed regulations mandating a minimum staffing standard of 4.1 hours of resident care per day.
August 31, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the latest list of Special Focus Facilities, which places special scrutiny on select nursing homes with a documented pattern of providing poor care.
August 26, 2021
A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. In this episode we will hear Mary Daniel’s story about how she advocated to be reunited with her husband, the national movement she founded, and talk about what we all can do to make a difference today.
August 20, 2021
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care commends the Biden Administration for its recent announcement that all nursing home staff must be fully vaccinated.
August 19, 2021
Watch the video walkthrough of the CMS website to find vaccination data for nursing homes.
August 12, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes COVID-19 nursing home data on their site Data.CMS.gov.
August 11, 2021
The Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021 was introduced in the Senate. This legislation would increase transparency, accountability, and oversight in nursing homes, improve staffing, and support innovation in the structure and culture of these facilities.
August 05, 2021
A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. When facilities tell residents and their families that they are “not a good fit” or encourage antipsychotic medications, often families feel pressured and aren’t sure how to advocate for their loved ones.
August 04, 2021
The Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 3733) is bipartisan legislation that gives residents of nursing homes the right to access essential caregivers during any public health emergency. This Act is critical to resident well-being.
July 28, 2021
Earlier this year, Consumer Voice and CANHR filed, with the assistance of counsel AARP Foundation and Constantine Cannon LLP, a lawsuit challenging a CMS 2017 directive that weakened the enforcement standards of the Nursing Home Reform Act and put residents at risk of harm. Last week, CMS reversed course, rescinding the directive and reinstituting stronger penalties for nursing home violations.
July 20, 2021
The new issue brief provides details on why temporary nurse aides need to be required to receive full training and certification.
July 20, 2021
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care has been awarded a five-year Cooperative Agreement from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to continue to operate the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC).
July 01, 2021
Consumer Voice has released two reports with findings from surveys of residents of long-term care facilities and their families.
June 30, 2021
Advocates identified four major research areas based on what they heard from consumers and witnessed themselves prior to and during the early months of the pandemic.
June 25, 2021
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a data snapshot detailing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes.
June 24, 2021
To address the longstanding problems in the long-term care system, as well as those exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Consumer Voice, with other advocacy organizations, have created a baseline framework with recommendations in six critical areas that need reform.
June 22, 2021
Many Governors and State Legislatures have signed executive orders or passed laws that prevent residents from holding nursing homes accountable in court. Consumer Voice has created a report detailing the status of nursing home immunity in every state.
June 18, 2021
A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. In this episode we are sharing with you a presentation held by the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) on 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.
June 16, 2021
All nursing home and assisted living facility residents and staff can receive a COVID-19 vaccine from the long-term care facility where they live or work. Read our information sheet to learn more.
June 15, 2021
Consumer Voice, along with partner advocates, have sent a letter calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to fully restore the visitation rights of nursing home residents.
May 20, 2021
2020 was a life-changing and traumatic year for nursing home residents. We have an opportunity to make major strides on behalf of residents. Will you help us now, so that we can seize this opportunity to achieve real reforms?
May 14, 2021
This new document reviews some of the most frequent questions we are asked by family members.
May 13, 2021
Consumer Voice has created a special webpage to honor and remember those we’ve lost during the lockdown.
May 04, 2021
The May 2021 issue of The Resident Advocate, a newsletter for residents of long-term care facilities, is now available.
May 04, 2021
Consumer Voice is seeking feedback from residents of long-term care facilities and their family members and friends about their experiences with visitation in the facility.
April 30, 2021
A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available. In this conversation with Robyn Grant and Jocelyn Bogdan of Consumer Voice, learn about how residents, families, and advocates can use guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to facilitate in-person visitation.
April 27, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance today that lifts restrictions on dining and other activities for fully vaccinated nursing home residents.
April 09, 2021
CMS rescinds emergency waivers related to notice prior to discharge/transfer, care planning, and submission of Minimum Data Set. Waivers related to nurse aide training remain.
April 07, 2021
On March 29, 2021, the CDC issued updated guidance regarding quarantining nursing home residents.
April 01, 2021
On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised visitation guidance. Read our full summary along with our key takeaways and concerns.
March 31, 2021
Episode 12 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast is now available and features Dr. Jonathan Evans as he talks about caring for human beings with dementia.
March 31, 2021
Consumer Voice is now accepting proposals for sessions at the 2021 Consumer Voice Virtual Conference, November 3-5, 2021.
March 30, 2021
Consumer Voice submitted a statement for the record for the March 17, 2021 Senate Committee on Finance hearing “A National Tragedy: COVID-19 in the Nations’ Nursing Homes.”
March 11, 2021
Today, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The law includes funding for long-term care ombudsman programs, Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services, funding for COVID-19 vaccines, funding for the Elder Justice Act, and more.
March 10, 2021
CMS released new guidance around visitation for nursing homes. It is effective immediately.
March 05, 2021
A new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast features Consumer Voice’s Sam Brooks and Lori Smetanka discussing the devastating effects of lockdowns on residents of long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 04, 2021
Consumer Voice, along with a number of other organizations and individuals, sent a letter with a detailed set of recommendations to CMS requesting that the agency take immediate measures to safely open the doors of nursing homes.
February 19, 2021
Episode 10 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts. In March of 2020, as COVID-19 was spreading through nursing homes at alarming rates, nursing home doors were closed to outside visitors, keeping out families, friends and other members of the community. At the same time, most residents were required to stay in their rooms, doors often shut, having little contact with others. A survey of nursing home residents by Altarum provides a look at the impact of these restrictions on those living in the facilities, and the toll it has taken on their physical and emotional health.
February 15, 2021
On March 13, 2021, it will be one year since state and federal officials banned visits in nursing homes. Sign the petition to reunite residents with their familes.
February 12, 2021
Thank you to all those who participated in the Twitter Storm to ask CMS and Congress to #OpenNursingHomeDoors. Be sure you’ve signed the petition.
February 10, 2021
It’s been almost one year since nursing homes shut their doors on March 13, 2020. Join Consumer Voice this Friday, February 12th to urge Congress and CMS to #OpenNursingHomeDoors.
February 05, 2021
The New York Attorney General released a preliminary report on the effect of COVID-19 on nursing homes in New York.
January 28, 2021
Episode 9 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts. In this conversation with Bev Laubert, Ohio State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Patty Ducayet, Texas State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, we discuss resident rights, the role of the Ombudsman program, and how residents can advocate for their rights in their facility.
January 19, 2021
Consumer Voice joined a lawsuit filed by AARP Foundation and Constantine Cannon LLP alleging that CMS put residents at risk by limiting enforcement penalties.
January 19, 2021
Consumer Voice has published a report, The Devastating Effect of Lockdowns on Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities During COVID-19, based on responses from family members of residents of long-term care facilities.
January 15, 2021
Episode 8 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts. Too often, caregivers are ill-equipped to address the needs of persons living with dementia, especially those related to behavioral health. In this episode we are sharing with you a presentation held at the 2020 Consumer Voice Virtual Conference. Listen as we explore strategies, effective treatments, and support for residents and families who often need help understanding their rights and how to get good care.
January 06, 2021
On January 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised a June 1, 2020 memo to State Survey Agency Directors regarding survey activities and issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the resumption of survey activities (QSO-20-31-ALL).
December 21, 2020
Visit our new webpage on the COVID-19 vaccination process for what we know so far, what consumers and advocates can do, and additional resources.
December 02, 2020
The immunization advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affirmed that long-term care residents and healthcare workers will be given first access to a COVID-19 vaccine once authorized by the federal government.
December 01, 2020
Consumer Voice, along with several other state and national advocacy organizations, sent a letter urging Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer to pass a COVID-19 relief package that would better protect nursing home residents.
November 24, 2020
As COVID-19 rates are increasing throughout the country, the CDC and CMS have published recommendations for visiting with families and friends. See our fact sheet summarizing these tips.
November 24, 2020
Throughout the challenges of the past nine months, the Consumer Voice has steadfastly advocated for residents, educated and empowered families, and supported the advocacy of ombudsmen and citizen advocates. Help us continue our important work.
November 20, 2020
Episode 7 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts. During this discussion with Sonya Barsness, a Masters-prepared Gerontologist, and Lori Smetanka, Consumer Voice Executive Director, they talk about a philosophy that honors the needs, preferences, and goals of elders by emphasizing choice, self-determination, relationships, purposeful living, and other similar values.
November 19, 2020
The Associated Press published an article today detailing the devastating effects short-staffing and facility lockdowns have had on residents of long-term care facilities since the pandemic began.
November 05, 2020
Episode 6 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts. During this discussion with Robyn Grant and Jocelyn Bogdan of Consumer Voice, we talk about about how families can advocate for their loved ones and for all residents, both on the local level and nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 03, 2020
While Consumer Voice commends the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for implementing routine and mandatory testing in the proposed Interim Final Rule CMS-3401, we urged CMS to strengthen the rule in order to better protect nursing home residents.
October 22, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma published a letter to nursing home residents and their families highlighting that long-term care facilities may not limit residents’ right to vote.
October 22, 2020
Episode 5 of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care Podcast is now available on iTunes. During this discussion with Steven Levin and Michael Bonamarte of Levin & Perconti law firm we talk about what you should be looking for and questions you should be asking as you resume in-person visits in a long-term care facility.
October 22, 2020
This resource provides suggestions of what to look for, questions to ask, and what you can do if you have concerns about their condition
October 07, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a memo “affirming the continued right of nursing home residents to exercise their right to vote.”
October 01, 2020
Congratulations to the long-term care consumers whose artwork has been chosen to be featured on a series of postcards.
October 01, 2020
October is Residents’ Rights Month an annual event to honor individuals receiving long-term care.
September 22, 2020
The National Ombudsman Resource Center released trainings for facility administrators, direct care staff, and family members of individuals living in long-term care facilities, as part of the training series, Understanding Trauma and Ensuring Person-Centered Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
September 18, 2020
Consumer Voice is very pleased to announce that yesterday, after six months of strict visitation restrictions in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a memo significantly easing those restrictions.
September 17, 2020
Read the statement from Lori Smetanka, Executive Director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care on the report released by the Coronavirus Commission.
September 15, 2020
Consumer Voice, along with a coalition of other advocates, released a statement opposing Safe to Work Act provisions.
September 15, 2020
It is now unclear whether Congress will pass any COVID-19 relief legislation, including any provisions related to immunity for nursing homes from liability for COVID-related care.
September 15, 2020
To help family members facing many new issues as they support and care for their loved ones in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Consumer Voice has released new fact sheets on family advocacy and family councils.
September 10, 2020
Two new fact sheets from Consumer Voice and the National Center on Elder Abuse provide self-care tips specifically for residents of long-term care facilities and for family caregivers.
September 08, 2020
Consumer Voice worked collaboratively with advocates and State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen throughout the country on visitation recommendations which were sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
September 01, 2020
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services issued an interim final rule that includes new COVID-19 testing requirements for nursing home residents and staff.
September 01, 2020
A new consumer fact sheet and podcast episode are available on pre-dispute arbitration agreements and the dangers they pose to long-term care consumers.
August 24, 2020
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services released a memo on August 17, 2020 announcing revisions in guidance related to survey activities and enforcement.
August 13, 2020
Get creative for the Postcard Artwork Contest and reflect on this year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme, Connection Matters.
August 03, 2020
Consumer Voice, along with other organizations, sent a letter to Congressional leaders opposing the Safe to Work Act, which would grant immunity to nursing homes.
July 31, 2020
The recently introduced Senate bill - the Safe to Work Act (S 4317) - would remove a nursing home’s liability for all negligent care that harms or results in the death of residents from 2019 until 2024 - including harm totally unrelated to COVID-19. Please act now to urge your members of Congress to strongly oppose this bill.
July 31, 2020
The press conference included information about the negative effects immunity would have on nursing home residents and staff and stories from family members of residents.
July 21, 2020
The Consumer Voice along with other resident advocates oppose immunity for facilities, as it removes necessary protections for residents, and will result in the further harm to residents.
July 13, 2020
Consumer Voice is tracking various policies and practices regarding each state’s response to the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Find your state’s information.
July 13, 2020
The 2020 Consumer Voice Conference will be an all-virtual event. Stay tuned for more details.
July 10, 2020
The Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes has announced it is accepting ideas and suggestions from the public until 5pm Friday, July 17.