Education
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September 17, 2024
State Reviews Reveal Concerns in Kitsap County Nursing Homes
Recent state reviews of nursing homes in Kitsap County have uncovered various issues affecting the quality of care for residents. From staffing shortages to regulatory violations, these findings highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring safe and adequate care for vulnerable populations. The reports underscore the need for improvements and stricter oversight to address these concerns and
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September 16, 2024
WA LTC Ombudsman Program Brochure
Check out our program’s 2024 brochure, Ombuds Overview Brochure
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September 6, 2024
Seattle Area Assisted Living Costs Soar, Creating Financial Strain for Families
The rising costs of assisted living in the Seattle area are placing significant financial pressure on families. With price tags reaching record highs, many are struggling to afford the care their loved ones need. This trend reflects a broader challenge in the U.S. as demand for assisted living services increases, but affordability continues to be
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September 6, 2024
Devoted Volunteers Provide Vital Support to Long-Term Care Residents, But More Help Is Needed
Volunteers play a crucial role in checking on and supporting individuals in long-term care facilities, offering companionship and ensuring their well-being. However, there is a growing need for more volunteers to meet the rising demand. As our population ages, these dedicated individuals provide essential services, helping bridge the gap in care, but the shortage of
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October 16, 2023
Medicare Quality Improvement Organization: KEPRO
If you have Medicare, Learn about the Rights you Have Under Medicare Kepro is the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) for 29 states. Kepro offers three services to help improve the quality of care and health outcomes for people with Medicare. For further information on these services and BFCC-QIO, please view
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March 2, 2023
Dignity for All: Staffing Standards Now!
This month marks the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s announcement of historic nursing home reforms. Creating a minimum staffing standard, which would be the most significant increase in protections for nursing home residents in decades, was central to his plan. Since his announcement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has embarked on a
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December 7, 2022
Resident Council Handbook
From the now retired, Resident Councils of Washington” “The goal of this project is simple and singular: To create opportunities for resident of long-term care facilities and homes to make and execute meaningful decisions. A resident council is one way to create decision-making opportunities for residents. We hope this books helps you think about and
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December 7, 2022
AgeWise King County: Ombuds Volunteers Needed in King County
“We rely on trained volunteers who visit residents inside long-term care facilities. Volunteers are the eyes and ears, assessing how residents are doing. We flag incidents of poor quality of care and violations of residents’ rights, resolve complaints, and serve as a voice for residents who too often just don’t have one. Volunteers help residents with
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November 30, 2022
Sequim Gazette: My life as a volunteer
By: Sequim resident Claudia Murray has 30 years of volunteering as an area long term care ombudsman at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across Clallam and Jefferson counties. November 30, 2022. “As we approach the holiday season — nearly three years into this global pandemic — I am reflecting on my role as
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November 22, 2022
Decades of neglect in nursing homes spur Biden plan for staff mandates
From the Washington Post’s Christopher Rowland, “Critics say the details of Sira’s suffering add to decades of accumulated evidence that residents suffer more complications, such as bed sores and falls, in nursing homes with inadequate numbers of front-line nurses and nursing assistants. Now, after years of debate and industry resistance, the Biden administration has set
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November 8, 2022
Memorandum In Support Of Petition For Rulemaking To Amend Rules To Ensure Discharge Protection For Residents In All Licensed Long-Term Care Settings
Twenty-seven years ago, the state legislature extended the federal rights of nursing home residents to the residents of all long-term care settings in Washington—including the right to appeal an involuntary transfer or discharge through an administrative hearing. However, the Department of Social and Health Services (the Department) has never amended its rules to provide this
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October 14, 2022
Balancing Privacy & Protection: Surveillance Cameras in Nursing Home Residents’ Rooms
You and your family members might have considered installing a surveillance camera in your room to help determine that you are receiving appropriate care and being treated with dignity and respect, or to be a deterrent to abuse. Surveillance cameras can record video only, audio only, or both video and audio. While surveillance cameras and
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October 5, 2022
Inspiring Unity within Our Community: Long-Term Care Residents Honored During Residents’ Rights Month, October 2022
Long-Term Care Residents Honored During Residents’ Rights Month, October 2022 Across the country, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities along with family members, ombudsmen, citizen advocates, facility staff and others will honor the individual rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Residents’ Rights Month in October. Designated by the National Consumer Voice
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August 16, 2022
The Columbian, “Vancouver volunteer makes impact as long-term care advocate”
“After Bob Kyte retired from his long career as a business executive, he wanted to volunteer somewhere where he could help people. That was about three years ago. Now, the 68-year-old Vancouver resident volunteers some 25 hours a month for the Southwest Washington Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, where he advocates on behalf of
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March 23, 2022
Crime Victim Support
Your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help support you if you are a victim of crime. We can guide you through the available resources, including those found both in the Advocacy Resource Map, and VOCA Contacts below. We will also provide follow-up advocacy to ensure that you receive the services that you are entitled. You
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March 23, 2022
Who Decides? LTC Residents & Decision Making
Thank you so much for taking part in The Washington State Long-Term Care “Who Decides? Long-Term Care Residents & Decision Making” program. This program is for anyone who wants to learn more about Powers of Attorney and Guardianship in Long-Term Care Facility settings. We hope that you find this training informative and useful. Both presentations
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March 23, 2022
Reducing Antipsychotics
The federal government, health care professionals and consumer advocates are taking action in curbing the misuse of antipsychotic drugs in long-term care facilities, especially in the management of dementia related symptoms and behaviors. Why? When used used incorrectly with elders, these drugs can be dangerous, and studies show they have caused significant harm.