Dignity AllianceENSURING WE NEVER FORGET DISABILITY RIGHTS HISTORY Wednesday March 10 noon – 1:30. Panelists: Alex Green, Reggie Clark, Woody Gaw and Donna Jay. Sponsored by Harvard Law School Project on Disability. REGISTER HERE ASL interpretation provided. In 2020’s waning months, activists rallied to oppose the decision of the City of Waltham, MA to approve using […]
The Joint Committee on Covid-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management will hold its first in a series of oversight hearings on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan on Thursday, February 25, 2021. The hearing will be held by the newly created Joint Committee and will seek testimony from the Baker Administration on the state’s COVID […]
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 […]
The hearing was held on October 13. For more information, including video testimony, visit: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/3580. Paul Lanzikos can be seen and heard around the 30 minute mark in the first video. Unfortunately, closed captions are not included. From State Senator Becca Rausch: “As the Senate Vice-Chair of the Elder Affairs Committee, on Tuesday I participated […]
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 […]
Testimony to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Determination of Need Program relative to its Memorandum on Applications for Determination of Need from Long Term Care Facilities dated October 6, 2020. This response is being presented on behalf of the members of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts. Download the written testimony: DignityAllianceDPHDON.docx. The Need for Skilled Nursing […]
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 […]