Categories
News Spotlight

2023-02-06: Spotlight on the Ensign Group

Tallgrass Economics Finance & Politics February 4, 2023THE ENSIGN GROUP 4TH QUARTER REPORT:  MARVELOUS IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR (BUT NOT IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE AND/OR A TAXPAYER).[This the most recent blog posted by Dave Kingsley, a principal with Tallgrass Economics Finance & Politics.]As I noted a couple of days ago, The Ensign Group […]

Categories
Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News Resolution

Healey should settle, not litigate, disability lawsuit

Avoid unnecessary institutionalization in nursing homes. January 27, 2023 by Alex Green and Bill Henning EVERY DAY, thousands of Massachusetts residents with disabilities are admitted to segregated nursing facilities, be it to recover from medical procedures, to receive respite and care because they’re homeless, or because of a lack supportive services that are needed to […]

Categories
Advocacy News Policy Resolution

Dignity Endorsed Legislation for 2023-2024

The Dignity Dozen The Legislative Work Group has released their initial list of 13 bills supported by Dignity Alliance Massachusetts. These bills will improve the lives of older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. DignityMA has also endorsed a number of legislative proposals sponsored by other organizations. Read this initial document (pdf) to learn […]

Categories
Covid-19 Facilities News

BU Alum Calls for a COVID Day of Remembrance in Massachusetts

Bostonia, October 31, 2022 Paul Lanzikos (Questrom’80), cofounder of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts, says the occasion could have public health benefits.It’s estimated that more than one million Americans have died of COVID since 2020, according to Our World in Data, and across the nation, grieving families of COVID-19 victims are demanding the designation of an annual […]

Categories
Advocacy Facilities News

Short of guardians, advocates could help patients navigate system

*Boston Globe, January 4, 2023Letter to the Editor by James Lomastro Editor’s note: James Lomastro is Chair of Dignity Alliance’s Veteran Services Workgroup. Kay Lazar’s article “Stranded in a hospital bed, with no guardian and little recourse” (Page A1, Dec. 27) brought a focus to an issue that does not receive much attention: the plight […]

Categories
Facilities News

Require Full Disclosure and Accountability for Nursing Home Reimbursement

Center for Medicare Advocacy, January 5, 2023, by T. Edelman Editor’s note: Richard Moore is the Chair of Dignity Alliance’s Legislative Workgroup. Owners and operators of nursing homes and their trade associations argue that they will need more money when mandatory staffing ratios promised by the Biden Administration are implemented. Don’t believe them. In “Are […]

Categories
Facilities News

Oxford nursing home sued for neglect of a patient 

Sunday Eagle-Tribune, January 8, 2023, by Mike LaBella Editor’s note: Arlene Germain is Chair of Dignity Alliance’s Facilities Workgroup. A lawsuit filed on behalf of a man murdered at a Haverhill nursing home in 2019 claims that staff failed to provide protection from his roommate, even after the 76-year-old pleaded for a new rooming assignment. The […]

Categories
Actions Facilities News

DignityMA Seeks Expertise re: resident room limits

Dignity Alliance Massachusetts is seeking expertise regarding: RIVER TERRACE OPERATOR, LLC, et al. vs. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, et al. Superior Court, Suffolk County, Civil Action No. 228CV1024 Dignity Alliance is seeking expert witnesses who can testify for the merits of limiting the number of residents per room and is also seeking any research that may […]

Categories
Advocacy Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Healey vows to address shortage of PCAs

by Henry Kuczinski Daily Hampshire Gazette, December 26, 2022 BOSTON — Governor-elect Maura Healey said she will “absolutely” work with advocates and labor representatives to strengthen Massachusetts’ Personal Care Attendant Program by addressing a “crisis-level” workforce shortage. The MassHealth program provides funds for individuals with chronic disabilities to hire attendants for in-home care. This allows […]

Categories
Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News

How to better care for our elderly and frail

Crisis of Care for Older Adults should be a Call to Action, not a Plea for More Tax Dollars. By Paul Lanzikos, Arlene Germain, Richard Moore, Lachlan Forrow. MD Boston Globe, December 23, 2022 The seriousness of our nursing home crisis, especially the severe shortages of available nursing and other support staff, is undeniable (“At a […]