NJ Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The August edition of The Beacon, the LTCO’s monthly newsletter, is out now. This month we highlight the Resident’s Voice Challenge, an annual effort by the National Consumer Voice to emphasize the importance of residents’ rights. Residents are encouraged to participate by submitting essays, poems, artwork, or videos related to the theme, The Power of My Voice. Download The Beacon at https://lnkd.in/eG6e7bEs. Or email outreach@ltco.nj.gov and sign up to receive our e-newsletter

Nursing home owners who sued to stop federal nurse staffing rules are facing an inconvenient fact: the standards would save about 13,000 lives a year. Finalized in April, the new rules will be phased in over five years. At the three-year mark, nursing homes must provide 3.48 hours of nursing care per patient per day and ensure that a registered nurse is on duty 24 hours a day. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a champion of the staff requirements, reached out to experts at the University of Pennsylvania and asked them to assess the impact on residents’ lives. The researchers said there is strong evidence that increased staffing would result in a reduction of 12,945 deaths a year, a higher level of functioning for residents, and fewer complications such as pressure sores and urinary tract infections. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eCN_iWaE.

Ensuring that nursing home residents can receive visitors during health emergencies not only fends off the harm of social isolation — it can help save lives. Research published recently by the University of Chicago concluded that COVID- and non-COVID-related deaths were lower in 17 states that enacted essential caregiver policies enabling visitation during the COVID-19 outbreak. (Read the study at https://lnkd.in/e7M7qRh7.) Advocates for residents — such as FACE NJ, AARP, and the LTCO — are urging New Jersey legislators to support bills A4040 and S1825, which would empower nursing home residents to designate people who must always be allowed to visit, despite any ongoing emergency.

The July edition of The Beacon, the LTCO’s monthly newsletter, is out now. This month, we provide an update on a resident-led effort to increase the personal needs allowance, highlight our Certified Volunteer Advocates, and share the story of a former nursing home resident who now has a home of her own in her community. Download the newsletter at https://lnkd.in/eG6e7bEs. Or email outreach@ltco.nj.gov and sign up to receive our e-newsletter.

Jane Koza is thriving after leaving a nursing home for her own place, thanks to the I Choose Home NJ program. She’s one of over 4,400 people benefiting from this initiative, born from the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. ruling. Read more about Jane's journey here: https://lnkd.in/gx6MAxHg

Happy Juneteenth! Today, we celebrate freedom and equality for all. The Office of the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman stands with our communities in honoring the resilience of Black Americans. Let's continue striving for a more inclusive and just society. Read more about Juneteenth below: https://lnkd.in/eNH7H22

Today, we mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by honoring the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers, along with our dedicated partners in the ongoing battle against elder abuse. We are dedicated to protecting the rights, dignity, and self-determination of individuals in long-term care. To report elder abuse within long-term care settings, call 877-582-6995 or visit https://www.nj.gov/ltco/

Looking out for vulnerable adults living in our community is crucial. If you or someone you know is facing abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to physical or mental challenges, Adult Protective Services (APS) can help. Check out the information below to learn how APS could support you or someone you care about. https://lnkd.in/e6WGWgBs

The New Jersey Task Force on Long-Term Care Quality and Safety released its final report last month, highlighting the need to reimagine long-term care in a way that enables more people to age in place; incentivizes smaller, home-like settings over large, hospital-like nursing homes; and improving conditions for long-term care staff to promote recruitment and retention. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e9dRmXgF

Looking to make a real impact in preventing elder abuse? Become a Certified Volunteer Advocate! As a CVA, you'll be trained to visit a nearby nursing home, engage with residents, and advocate on their behalf. Along the way, you can build meaningful relationships by offering a compassionate, listening ear to residents when they need it most. Learn more below! https://lnkd.in/eKVbj7ah