JAMA Health ForumBy Monica S. Aswani, DrPH; Paul R. Shafer, PhD, January 3, 2025Editor’s Note: An increase in the Personal Needs Allowance for Massachusetts nursing home residents and the establishment of an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) are priority legislative objectives of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts for the 2025-2026 Legislative Session. Medicaid Personal Needs Allowances—Overdue for Adjustment There were over […]
Category: News
Nonprofit QuarterlyBy James Lomastro, PhD, January 6, 2025Editor’s Note: James Lomastro is a member of the Dignity Alliance Massachusetts Coordinating Committee and is the Chair of several workgroups. Dignity in Action: From Institutional Failure to Decentralized Empowerment Forged amid the suffering, deaths, and neglect that prevailed in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, this peer-led […]
Nurse.org, By Angelina WalkerJanuary 2, 2025 The debate over private equity’s role in healthcare has intensified in recent years, with critics arguing that the profit-driven model of these investment firms is incompatible with high-quality patient care and safety. Recent developments have added fuel to this ongoing discussion as private equity (PE) firms have been increasingly […]
The Assisted Living Workgroup, along with other organizations, have proposed Consumer Protection Regulations for Residents of Assisted Living Residences in Massachusetts. The proposal was sent to Mary Freeley, Director of the Elder Justice Unit under Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in January 2025. The collaborative effort involved representatives from Dignity Alliance Massachusetts, Greater Boston Legal […]
After Action Review of the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, U. S. House of RepresentativesDecember 4, 2024 The Select Subcommittee had bipartisan consensus across multiple topics. In addition to these notable bipartisan successes, the Select Subcommittee developed extensive findings, some of which include:
CMS Issues Major Updates to Nursing Home Care Guidelines Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesNovember 18, 2024What’s Changing?CMS’s new 900-page revised long-term care surveyor guidance document includes updates to critical care areas such as: Medication Rights: A Focus on PsychotropicsCMS is strengthening protections against the misuse of psychotropic medications, such as antipsychotics. These medications should […]
U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of Inspector GeneralNovember 9, 2024 Why OIG Did This Audit What OIG Found These deficiencies put the health and safety of residents, staff, and visitors at an increased risk of injury or death during a fire or other emergency, or in the event of an infectious disease outbreak. […]
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 A Long-Term Care Ombudsman is certified to investigate any issues that arise in nursing homes, rest homes, or assisted living facilities, so the residents who live there can do so with dignity and respect. As an advocate, a Long-Term Care Ombudsman works to resolve problems between residents and nursing homes, rest […]
As Americans Gather for Thanksgiving, New Federal Data Show Many Nursing Home Residents Endure Understaffed Facilities Long Term Care Community CoalitionNovember 25, 2024 Federal law mandates that all nursing homes provide sufficient staff to meet the care and quality of life needs of their residents every day. However, new data show that hundreds of thousands […]
Presented by Tri-Valley, Center for Living & Working (CLW), and Elder Services of Worcester (ESWA) on December 6, 2024. The video explains how their Option’s Counselors (OC) help individuals of all ages navigate not only Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS), but myriad other programs, benefits, and options that are available to help them make choices […]