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October 1, 2024
In this Issue:
- Members of Congress Send Letter to Nursing Home Owners Rebutting Claims that They Cannot Afford New Standard
- Updated Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes from CDC
- It's Residents' Rights Month
- Resource Highlight - Residents' Right to Vote and Ombudsman Program Advocacy
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Members of Congress Send Letter to Nursing Home Owners Rebutting Claims that They Cannot Afford New Standard
Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jan Schakowsky sent a letter to the CEOs of three major nursing homes - Brookdale Senior Living, Ensign Group, and National HealthCare - disputing claims from the nursing homes that they cannot afford to meet minimum staffing requirements as a part of the new standard. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) minimum staffing standard released last April would require Registered Nurses on-site 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and would require use of evidence-based methods to determine the actual staffing needs of residents, while not staffing below specific levels. Despite what are modest staffing requirements that target the worst-performing facilities and include a generous implementation period as well as exemptions and waivers, the nursing home industry has called the staffing rule “unreasonable,” “a nightmare,” and threatens facility closures at every turn.
In their scathing letter, the lawmakers wrote, "It is insulting that the for-profit nursing home industry, which receives billions of taxpayer dollars annually to run its operations, appears to prefer lining the pockets of its executives and shareholders rather than creating sustainable working conditions for nurses and staff. The basis of your opposition to minimum staffing standards appears to be quite simple: greed."
Read their full letter.
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Updated Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes from CDC
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have updated their resource, Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes. This toolkit helps nursing home infection preventionists and leadership prepare for and respond to nursing home residents or healthcare personnel who develop signs or symptoms of a respiratory viral infection. The CDC has extensively updated the resources section, including links to information on this season’s vaccine recommendations, testing and treatment, billing and payment, and infection prevention and control. While the toolkit is tailored toward nursing homes, the resources and many of the listed actions could be adapted for use in other long-term care settings.
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It's Residents' Rights Month
 October 1st marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of residents' rights. Spend time this month honoring residents living in all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, sub-acute units, assisted living, board and care, and retirement communities. Plus, take time to focus on individuals receiving care in their homes or communities.
Residents have the right to self-determination and to use their voice to make their own choices. This year's Residents' Rights Month theme, The Power of My Voice, emphasizes self-empowerment and recognizes the power of residents being vocal about their interests, personal growth, and right to live full, enriching lives.
Celebrate with us all month long as we highlight entries to the Resident's Voice Challenge (check back as we add more to the website), resources emphasizing residents' rights, and activities and media coverage from around the country.
Do you have something planned to celebrate or was your article featured in local media? Let us know by emailing details and photos info@theconsumervoice.org.
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Resource Highlight - Residents' Right to Vote and Ombudsman Program Advocacy
 As advocates, Ombudsman programs support all residents’ right to vote and advocate on behalf of residents to ensure that they have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Learn more in the fact sheet.
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