August 27, 2024

In this Issue:

1. New Podcast Episode on Voting Access for Long-Term Care Consumers
2. National Voting Rights Campaign #LTCVotes
3. Resident's Voice Challenge Entries Due September 1
4. Resource Highlight - Residents' Rights Fact Sheet

New Podcast Episode on 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. In a new episode of the Pursuing Quality Long-Term Care podcast, listen to Gwen Orlowski, Executive Director of Disability Rights New Jersey discuss how residents and their families can ensure their voices are heard in the upcoming elections.

This election season, use #LTCVotes #LTCRightToVote on social media to promote long-term care residents' right to vote and have their voices heard!

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Facebook, YouTube or our website.

National Voting Rights Campaign #LTCVotes

The Live Oak Project and Gray Panthers NYC have been working with other long-term care professionals to launch a national voting rights campaign, #LTCVotes. The aim of the campaign is to identify barriers long-term care residents face when trying to exercise their right to vote and then connect residents and leadership in long-term care communities to tangible community-based resources to help mitigate those barriers. They have created this flyer to assist with outreach.

Resident's Voice Challenge Entries Due September 1

Residents of long-term care facilities are encouraged to get creative in demonstrating the power of their voice and reflecting on this year's Residents' Right Month theme. Use these questions to inspire you:

• What makes you feel empowered?
• What types of interests, hobbies or activities enrich your life?
• How do you use your voice to empower yourself and others?

Consider using a unique medium to share your voice – make a video or audio recording describing what makes you feel empowered or what enriches your life, read a piece of original poetry or a short story, play original music or sing a song, show and tell us about your artwork, etc.

Read the Resident's Voice Challenge Criteria to learn how to participate. Email entries to info@theconsumervoice.org by September 1.

Resource Highlight - Residents' Rights Fact Sheet

Residents of nursing homes have rights that are guaranteed by the federal Nursing Home Reform Law. The law requires nursing homes to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and stresses individual dignity and self-determination.

Download the fact sheet outlining these rights, or purchase printed versions in bulk, in other languages, or as a larger sign.