January is National Blood Donor Month January is not just the start of a new year; it’s also a time for giving, gratitude, and saving lives. It’s the month when we celebrate National Blood Donor Month. This month holds a special meaning for millions of people around the world. It helps raise awareness about the…
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Update 7/17/22: The Essential Caregivers Program will be law as of 8/28/22! It is no secret that nursing homes became a place of intense isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. When everyone felt alone and isolated, long-term care residents were left in understaffed facilities where even their basic needs were not being met. Many stories arose…
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Loneliness and isolation affect the physical and mental wellbeing of older adults. Studies have shown that loneliness is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, difficulty sleeping, impaired cognition, and high blood pressure. Without social networks and a connection to the community, the elderly risk their health, and isolation in long-term care has…
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The toll that Covid-19 has taken on long-term care(LTC) residents is staggering, from increased likelihood of elder abuse to being targets for scams related to COVID-19. The risks that COVID-19 placed on the health of older adults and the ways it swept through long-term care homes caused residents to lose many of their rights. As…
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Residents have rights. This is the core of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which is dedicated to advocating for the rights of residents. During this pandemic, we have seen rights in direct conflict with health and safety precautions against COVID-19. Most notably is a resident’s right to have visitors. Since March of 2020, visitation guidance…
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued their emergency regulation requiring healthcare workers to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 4, 2022. VOYCE advocates on behalf of residents in long-term care and we are pleased to see that this regulation not only includes long-term care clinical and non-clinical staff, but also…
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VOYCE’s statement on the Essential Caregivers Act: COVID-19 has caused unimaginable devastation across our nation’s nursing homes. In March 2020, long-term care facilities across the country went on lockdown, violating the resident’s rights to visitation and leaving residents to live in total isolation. For over a year, residents lived without visits from friends and family….
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