Download Dignity Alliance’s comments on the renewal of the Commonwealth’s 1115 Renewal: 1115 Waiver Renewal DAM.docx. Comments regarding the Renewal of the 1115 Waiver Dignity Alliance Massachusetts, a grass-roots coalition of aging and disability service and advocacy organizations and supporters, is dedicated to securing fundamental changes in the provision of long-term services, support, and care. […]
Category: Resolution
Whereas, Older Adults and People with Disabilities in Massachusetts and all Americans age fifty or overs are already on edge about their financial and retirement security: The one-two punch of the pandemic and the economic crisis puts millions of people in our community in danger; and Whereas, Social Security is the largest source of retirement […]
We urge the immediate creation of an initiative to demonstrate the efficacy of nursing facilities operating primarily with single-occupancy rooms. This addresses consumer demand and expectations for privacy, dignity, and choice as well as optimizes infection control protocols. While Governor Baker’s proposal to eliminate three and four bedded rooms is a positive step, we strongly […]
We call for further legislative inquiry to determine why and how residents and workers disproportionately incurred the worst impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and to identify and develop strategies, policies, and procedures to address any resurgence of Covid-19 or the spread of influenza and other infectious diseases in nursing homes and other congregate living settings.
We strongly advocate appropriations to ensure the universal availability of necessary supports, including, but not limited to, sufficient and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and of livable wages and benefits for frontline workers confronting the current coronavirus outbreak as well as anticipating future needs.
An immediate objective is the expansion of the ability of older adults and persons with disabilities to receive comprehensive services, support, and care in their own homes or other locations in the community of their choice. This can occur through changes to Medicaid waiver programs, enhancement of eligibility rules and the scope of benefits in […]
Dignity Alliance supports lifting the DON moratorium for specialized skilled nursing facilities for substance use/mental health issues and COVID-19 rehabilitation. Any applicant which proposes to serve this population should demonstrate that it has the skills, expertise, appropriate programming, and trained staff to adequately meet the needs of the population. We question the need for special […]
Dignity Alliance generally applauds the Department’s attention to infection control and believes this should be a priority for ALL skilled nursing facilities, not only in some new specialized facility. Issue The Department deserves commendation for requiring responsible infection prevention and control of any new or amended DON serving one of the specialized populations identified in […]
Dignity Alliance applauds the Department’s recognition that older adults and persons with disabilities who qualify for MassHealth have the right to be treated with dignity and respect as any other individuals. This can be best demonstrated in every person’s ability to choose to live in single-occupancy rooms in any skilled nursing facilities whether specialized or […]
Categories
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 […]