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Support Advocacy for Residents During COVID-19

November 24, 2020

Dear Friends,

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime. It has impacted all of us personally, and for many long-term care facility residents and their families, tragically. More than 90,000 residents and staff have died from COVID-19, and many more residents from the isolation, loneliness, and neglect they are experiencing.

This pandemic has highlighted decades old challenges in nursing home care, such as insufficient staff, the importance of family and other support persons on ensuring care and well-being, and the need to re-evaluate how and where we care for our most vulnerable elders.

As we head into the giving season, I am asking for your support by making a gift to the Consumer Voice.

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. Our staff jumped into action quickly and have been working tirelessly to address the needs of consumers, families, and advocates – creating new resources, analyzing changes to nursing facility rules and guidance, and tracking federal and state policies affecting residents, families, and ombudsmen. We have raised the voices and concerns of residents and families with CMS and members of Congress, and have been fighting to reunite residents and families, obtain hazard pay and other supports for staff, and focus attention and resources on the immediate care needs of residents.

As our communities are facing record numbers of COVID-19 cases, the continued tragic impact of both COVID-19 and isolation on residents continues, making Consumer Voice’s work more important than ever. We have been very thankful for your help and partnership over the last year; and with your support, our staff will have the ability to be responsive to the challenges that present themselves during these uncertain times.

Join us on Tuesday, December 1st for Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity and kick-off to this year's giving season.  GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a simple idea: to create a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.  Participate this year by making a donation on Giving Tuesday and inviting your family and friends to join with you to support our advocacy.

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Spread the word about Consumer Voice by following us on Facebook or Twitter, and staying engaged in advocacy by joining our Action Network.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Lori Smetanka
Executive Director

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