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2024 Legislative Candidates

To inform older adults, persons with disabilities, family members, and caregivers about legislative candidates’ positions on issues of interest, Dignity Alliance Massachusetts (DignityMA) has prepared The Dignity Dozen, twelve questions regarding key issues and proposals.

Questionnaires to all candidates on the November 5th general election ballot will be distributed after primary election day.

Table Of Contents
  1. Questions
  2. November Candidate Responses (pdfs)
  3. Primary Candidate Responses (pdfs)
  4. Primary Candidates for State Senate and House

Questions

  1. Most Massachusetts residents know someone who has needed long-term services or care due to issues related to aging or disabilities or experienced it themselves. Has anyone close to you needed nursing home care, congregate living arrangements, or home and community-based services, such as personal care assistants? What was their experience?
  2. Nursing home residents are allowed to keep a monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) of $72.80 from their Social Security benefits and other income sources. The balance is paid to the nursing home. The PNA can be used for personal needs such as hairdressing / barber, services, clothing, cellphones, etc. The amount of the PNA has not been changed in over 30 years. Given inflation, the allowance would be about $160.00 today. Do you think the PNA should be increased?
  3. During the 2021-2022 legislative session, the issuance of a bond for $200 million was authorized to undertake the construction of “small house” type nursing homes for veterans in communities throughout the Commonwealth. Would you encourage the Administration to implement this project within the next year and to provide additional funding to help the program operate and expand?
  4. One of the most important bills being considered by the 193rd General Court, but not yet enacted, is H4193 / S.2889 An Act relative to Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care and Assisted Living. Given the pervasive occurrence of substandard care and chronic staffing shortages in nursing homes throughout the state, would you support reform measures to require transparency of ownership, management accountability, and more rigorous enforcement by the Department of Public Health and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs?
  5. Most Massachusetts residents would prefer to age in place in their homes or in their community. Will you support increased funding for programs and services such as housing vouchers, home modification for greater accessibility, increased support for personal care assistants, home care, assistive technology, and similar initiatives to help older adults and people with disabilities remain independent and safe in their own homes rather than face placement in nursing homes?
  6. The ownership of nursing homes is increasingly under the control of out-of-state investor groups and private equity interests. The organizational structure has been segmented into many “related business” components, often under common ownership, e.g., a real estate entity, management company, therapy services, and more. This makes it difficult to determine who controls major staffing, operational, and business decisions and who has responsibility and accountability. Consequently, it is critical to analyze how MassHealth funds are being used. Periodic, independent, comprehensive, and transparent public audits are necessary to assess how nursing homes operate and how public funding is spent. Will you advocate that the state auditor undertakes this type of audit as a priority?
  7. During the pandemic, hundreds of millions of dollars of state and federal funds have been paid to the owners of Massachusetts nursing homes. There has been little to no analysis and accountability of the use of these funds. Providing public assurance that the funding was used as intended is crucial. Will you support the call for a comprehensive public audit of the use of pandemic-related and other supplemental funds for nursing home spending as a priority?
  8. Nursing home residents often have their human rights ignored or curtailed. They are frequently not treated with proper respect and dignity. Residents in nursing homes licensed by the Department of Public Health have less rights than clients served by the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Development Services. Will you support efforts to restore human rights to such residents, such as allowing nursing home residents to file suit under consumer protection laws?
  9. There are frequent incidences of bullying of older adults and persons with disabilities who reside in elder and congregate housing. Will you support legislation to strengthen laws and their enforcement to prevent and reduce bullying in elder and other congregate housing?
  10. Anti-psychotic medications are administered to about one of four nursing home residents in Massachusetts, one of the highest nursing home anti-psychotic usage rates in the country. Massachusetts requires informed written consent from a nursing home resident or a resident’s representative before the administration of anti-psychotic and other psychotropic drugs. Additionally, about 10% of Massachusetts nursing home residents have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, many of recent determination. This is a rate ten times greater than that of the general population. Will you support legislation to improve the control and oversight of these medications provided to nursing home residents?
  11. Approximately 70% of Massachusetts nursing homes regularly report staffing levels below the state minimum of 3.58 hours per resident day. Most experts believe that the ratio should be higher. Do you support requiring nursing homes that fail to meet an evidence-based standard for nursing care to freeze new admissions until they comply?
  12. The Department of Public Health is expected to respond to nursing home resident complaints in a timely manner. The same applies to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for assisted living resident complaints. Both agencies have been chronically behind in timely response according to the Inspector General of US Health and Human Services. Will you support adequate staffing of nursing home surveyors (inspectors), and efforts to improve compliance with timely responses to resident complaints?

Do you have any thoughts to add? Do you have any questions for us?

November Candidate Responses (pdfs)

Primary Candidate Responses (pdfs)

Primary Candidates for State Senate and House

State Chamber DistrictCANDIDATESEMAIL ADDRESSESCAMPAIGN WEBSITES
SENATE1st Suffolk DistrictNick CollinsNick.Collins@masenate.gov
SENATE1st Suffolk DistrictJuwan Skeensskeensforsenate@gmail.com
SENATE2nd Bristol DistrictMark MontignyMark.Montigny@masenate.gov
SENATE2nd Bristol DistrictMolly Kivimollykivi1919@gmail.com
SENATE3rd Bristol and Plymouth DistrictJoseph Pachecojoe@joepacheco.net
SENATE3rd Bristol and Plymouth DistrictBarry SandersBarry@barrysanders.us
SENATEHampden DistrictAdam Gomezgomezadam@live.com
SENATEHampden DistrictMalo BrownMalomiajane@yahoo.com
SENATENorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol DistrictKathleen Crogan-CamaraKate755745@aol.com
SENATENorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol DistrictErin Bradleyeringbradley@gmail.com
SENATENorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol DistrictWilliam Driscoll, Jr.bdriscolljr@gmail.com
SENATEPlymouth and Barnstable DistrictKari MacRaeKaridmacrae@gmail.com
SENATEPlymouth and Barnstable DistrictMathew Muratorematmuratore@gmail.com
HOUSE1st Bristol DistrictKostas Loukoskostas.dimitrios.loukos@gmail.com
HOUSE1st Bristol DistrictDavid Martinneopolity@gmail.com
HOUSE1st Bristol DistrictMichael E. Toolevotetoole@comcast.net
HOUSE1st Plymouth DistrictMichelle Badgerbadgerforplymouth@gmail.com BadgerForPlymout.com
HOUSE1st Plymouth DistrictArthur Deslogesart.desloges@gmail.com
HOUSE1st Plymouth DistrictScott Hokansonhokansonbenefits@gmail.com
HOUSE1st Plymouth DistrictStephen Michael Palmerstephenp@mirbeau.com
HOUSE1st Plymouth DistrictJesse Brownjesse.brown@heidrea.com
HOUSE1st Plymouth DistrictDee WallaceSpencerdwallacespencer@yahoo.com
HOUSE2nd Plymouth DistrictSusan GiffordSusan.Gifford@mahouse.gov
HOUSE2nd Plymouth DistrictJohn Gaskeyjohn.r.gaskey@gmail.com
HOUSE3rd Berkshire DistrictLeigh Davisleighdavis99@gmail.com
HOUSE3rd Berkshire DistrictJamie Minaccijamieminacci@gmail.com
HOUSE3rd Berkshire DistrictPatrick Whitepatrick@patrickwhiteberkshires.com
HOUSE5th Middlesex DistrictDavid LinskyDavid.Linsky@mahouse.gov
HOUSE5th Middlesex DistrictJaymin Patelijaymin@gmail.com
HOUSE6th Plymouth DistrictJane Cournanjanecournan@gmail.com
HOUSE6th Plymouth DistrictKenneth Sweezeyken@sweezeyforstaterep.com
HOUSE6th Suffolk DistrictRussell HolmesRussell.Holmes@mahouse.gov
HOUSE6th Suffolk DistrictHarris Hardawayharishardaway@yahoo.com
HOUSE6th Suffolk DistrictSamuel PierceSamuelpierce2020@gmail.com
HOUSE7th Middlesex DistrictJack Patrick Lewisjackplewis@gmail.com
HOUSE7th Middlesex DistrictCarlton Phelpsinfophelpsma@gmail.com
HOUSE7th Norfolk DistrictChristos Alexopoulosinfo@chrisalexopoulos.com
HOUSE7th Norfolk DistrictTony Kingtony@beantownusa.com
HOUSE7th Norfolk DistrictRichard Wells, Jr.Richardwells@ymail.com
HOUSE7th Worcester DistrictPaul FrostPaul.Frost@mahouse.gov
HOUSE7th Worcester DistrictMichelle FrigonMfree1212@yahoo.com
HOUSE8th Suffolk DistrictJay LivingstoneLivingstone.james@gmail.com
HOUSE8th Suffolk DistrictLisa Graflisa_jeanne_graf@msn.com
HOUSE8th Suffolk DistrictKelechi Linardonkc2020campaign@gmail.com
HOUSE9th Middlesex DistrictThomas StanleyThomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov
HOUSE9th Middlesex DistrictHeather Maynpnebraska@gmail.com
HOUSE10th Bristol DistrictRobert McConnellfwe931@yahoo.com
HOUSE10th Bristol DistrictJoseph Piresjoepiresma@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Essex DistrictHong Netvotehong@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Essex DistrictSean ReidTheReidCommittee@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Hampden DistrictBud WilliamsBudl3@comcast.net
HOUSE11th Hampden DistrictJohnnie McKnightjohnniekiley@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Middlesex DistrictAlexander JablonJablonforma@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Middlesex DistrictAmy Sangiolosangioloforstaterep@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Plymouth DistrictRita MendesMendeslawgroup@gmail.com
HOUSE11th Plymouth DistrictFred FontaineFredMFontaine@yahoo.com
HOUSE12th Middlesex DistrictBill Humphreybill@billhumphrey.net BillHumphrey.org
HOUSE12th Middlesex DistrictRick Lipofinfo@RickLipof.com
HOUSE12th Middlesex DistrictGreg Schwartzgreg.schwartz02@gmail.com
HOUSE13th Norfolk DistrictPatrick Gattopatrick@gattoagency.com
HOUSE13th Norfolk DistrictKenneth Ruetenikkennyruetenik@gmail.com
HOUSE13th Norfolk DistrictJoshua Tarskyelectjoshuatarsky@gmail.com
HOUSE16th Essex DistrictFrancisco Paulinofranciscopaulino9@gmail.com
HOUSE16th Essex DistrictMarcos Deversjhovannymarte@yahoo.com
HOUSE18th Middlesex DistrictRady MomRady.Mom@mahouse.gov
HOUSE18th Middlesex DistrictTara Hongtarathornhong@gmail.com
HOUSE18th Middlesex DistrictAndrew Kollarandrew.wj.kollar@gmail.com
HOUSE25th Middlesex DistrictMarjorie Deckermarjorie.decker@gmail.com
HOUSE25th Middlesex DistrictEvan MacKayevancmackay@gmail.com
HOUSE27th Middlesex DistrictErika Uyterhoevenerika@electerika.com
HOUSE27th Middlesex DistrictKathleen Hornbykathleen@kathleenhornby.com
HOUSE28th Middlesex DistrictJospeh McGonagle, Jr.Joseph.McGonagle@mahouse.gov
HOUSE28th Middlesex DistrictMichael MarcheseMichael_marchese10@comcast.net
HOUSE35th Middlesex DistrictPaul DonatoPaul.Donato@mahouse.gov
HOUSE35th Middlesex DistrictNichole Mossalamnmossalam@gmail.com
HOUSE35th Middlesex DistrictZayda Ortizelectzayda@gmail.com