Categories
Facilities News Study Session Worker Support

Nursing Home Staffing

This important topic was not a DignityMA Study Session, but this post attempts to be a compilation of current information on the topic. CMS has released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that would implement a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes. DignityMA is following this top closely, and will continue to provide opinions. […]

Categories
Covid-19 Facilities News Testimony Worker Support

DPH Proposed Regulations Eliminating COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Personnel

(Scroll down to read DignityMA testimony for this proposal.) The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued proposed amendments to regulations for long term care facilities and other providers aligning the flu and COVID-19 vaccine requirements for personnel, eliminating the mandate that all personnel be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine.  Under the proposed amendments, personnel will […]

Categories
Advocacy Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Increase the rate of payment for PCA’s to at least $25 per hour

June 19, 2023 Dignity Alliance MA supports increasing the payment for PCA’s to at least $25 per hour. 45 individuals and organizations have endorsed the following letter to Governor Healey, asking her to implement this increase immediately. Letter to Governor Healey Dear Governor Healey, On behalf of the membership of the Dignity Alliance of Massachusetts, […]

Categories
Actions Advocacy Facilities Resolution Worker Support

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Join the DignityMA Resolution for Sufficient Nursing Home Staffing Thursday, June 15, 2023 marks the annual observance of WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY,which was launched more than a decade ago by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.  Dignity Alliance Massachusetts expresses concern that […]

Categories
News Spotlight Worker Support

2023-06-05 Spotlight: The Care Economy with Ai-jen Poo

Why Is This Happening? (Podcast and transcript)May 31, 2023 Every day in the United States, 10,000 people turn 65, according to the UN Population Division. We are about to have the largest older population ever. At the same time, nearly 4 million babies are born every year, leaving many Americans juggling caring for young children […]

Categories
Home and Community Based News Worker Support

2023-04-24 Spotlight: Historic Exec Actions to Improve Care

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Most Sweeping Set of Executive Actions to Improve Care in History Scroll down to see the reactions Disability Scoop, the AARP and the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD). The White House, April 18, 2023 Today, President Biden will announce the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has ever […]

Categories
Advocacy News Worker Support

PCA Rally for Increased Wages

On March 1, PCA from 1199 SEIU union, consumers, advocates and legislators gathered at the union headquarters. After reminding everyone why it is so important for PCAs to earn more money, everyone marched to the new sculpture on Boston Common, the Embrace. Following that, the protest moved to the governor’s office at the State House. […]

Categories
Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Updates from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)

AARP Quarterly, Stakeholders Meeting, 16 February 2023 Download the Updates from EOEA (pdf). Topics include: PHCAST (Personal and Home Care Aid Skills Training) Expanded Training PHCAST New Website at MAHomeCareTraining.org PHCAST Marketing Campaign EOEA Branding and Promotion Project Information on End of Federal Extra SNAP Information on MassHealth Redetermination MassHealth Update on Medicare Savings Program

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 News Testimony Worker Support

DignityMA Supports Minimum Staffing Standard

6/10/22 DignityMA response to CMS Request for Information (RFI) to support National Minimum Staffing Standard. Inadequate staffing is the primary driver of poor health outcomes in nursing homes, and CMS has promised to propose a minimum staffing standard within one year.  The RFI follows the Biden Administration’s February 28, 2022 proposal of significant nursing home […]