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Facilities Resolution

Resolution: Performance Scores

Dignity Alliance agrees that quality measures and past performance of applicants are vital to offering long-term care services. Issue An eligible applicant, in addition to being in the top quartile performance as measured in and reported to the Commonwealth’s Nursing Home Survey Performance Tool, must demonstrate that it has been in the top quartile for […]

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Facilities News Resolution

Resolution: Compliance with DON Health Priorities

Dignity Alliance urges the Department to set the bar high and suggests that all the listed priorities are important. Applicants should be required to state what they will do to support each of the priorities listed in the Memorandum and any others required by the Department. Issue Issue: Rather than require an applicant to address […]

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News

Alison Barkoff

Alison Barkoff was sworn into office as the Principal Deputy Administrator on January 20, 2021, and currently is serving as Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging. In this capacity, she provides executive direction, leadership, guidance and coordination for ACL programs nationwide and advises the HHS Secretary on issues affecting individuals with disabilities and older […]

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Covid-19 Facilities News

Baker says vaccine will be administered to those in shelters, prisons, and senior housing

By Travis Andersen Globe Staff, January 13, 2021 Governor Charlie Baker said Wednesday that Massachusetts will start administering the COVID-19 vaccine Monday to the more than 94,000 people who live and work in congregate care settings such as prisons, shelters, and certain private special education schools. Baker broke the news at his regular State House […]

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Behavioral Health Covid-19 Facilities News

Request to State Auditor

Dignity Alliance Massachusetts has sent a letter to State Auditor Suzanne Bump, asking for a follow up audit of nursing facilities. The letter is copied below, or download the DAMAuditor Letter on Nursing Home Complaints.docx. “We appreciate the work you and your office reported in September 2019 regarding the unconscionable delays in complaint investigations of […]

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Covid-19 News

Resolution: Correct SS Covid Cut

Without this protection, people who become eligible for Social Security in 2022 will be the victims of potentially reduced benefits, due to the 2019 – 2020 economic downturn. For more details, read: Some retirees social security benefits could dip unless Congress acts from CNBC. Resolution Urging the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to Correct the Social Security […]

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Covid-19 Facilities News

Arlene Germain and Paul Lanzikos Interview on Covid-19

25 Investigates: Second wave of COVID-19 crashing into Mass. nursing homes November 16: Boston 25 News interviewed Dignity Alliance on the second surge of Covid-19 and the nursing home reform advocates call for more changes. “Dignity Alliance Massachusetts believes the pandemic exposed underlying issues in nursing homes that only contributed to the crisis. They advocate […]

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Advocacy News

OPPOSE Waltham Light Show at Fernald

Disability Advocates Oppose Waltham Light Show at Abandoned Institution We are calling on the City of Waltham and the Waltham Lions to move a proposed holiday light show that they plan to hold at a former state institution, Fernald Developmental Center, where thousands of disabled people lived and died. “In a letter to Waltham Mayor […]

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Testimony

Budget Items for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Read FY 21 Budget Letter to Ways and Means.docx to learn about DAM’s specific recommended improvements to the budget. Note: The following letter was also sent to Aaron Michelwicz, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committe, with copies to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and House Majority Leader Ronald Mariano. November 1, 2020 Dear […]

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Covid-19 Testimony

Act To Address Estate Recovery Issues Due To COVID-19

Download the testimony: Dignity Alliance Estate Recovery Testimony 20890.docx October 30, 2020 H4978 / S2818 Dear Chairs of the Judiciary Committee: Representative Claire Cronin and Senator Jamie Eldridge, The Dignity Alliance submits this testimony in support of H4978/S2818 An Act To Address Estate Recovery Issues Due To COVID-19 filed by Representative Christine Barber and Senator […]