Nursing Home Resources
To be an effective advocate or self-advocate, one needs to make the best use possible of available tools and support resources. The following are just a handful of suggestions for places to turn for information during one's own advocacy efforts..
Olmstead Decision (Olmstead v.L.C.)
On June 22, 1999, three ladies, Elaine Wilson, Lois Curtis, and Sue Jamieson became a permanent part of the history of the disability advocacy movement when their persistence in seeking justice in the form of Lois and Elaine's full inclusion in the community resulted in the as yet not too well known Olmstead decision. As Olmstead becomes more broadly known, several sites are beginning to carry extended information on it including Cornell Law School, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the Georgia state government. ArcLink.org additionally offers one self-advocate's take on what the Olmstead decision means to them: Ask Me About Olmstead: A Self-advocate's Version.
Georgia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
The Georgia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman works to improve the quality of Life for those in long term care nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Training for community members includes full emphasis on making sure the wishes of nursing home residents are met by their facilities. Possible best place to start is their location finder where numerous centers can be found across the state of Georgia.
National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
The National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center offers interested parties a national ombudsman locator for those seeking assistance for individuals seeking to find feedback on prospective facilities and to resolve disputes within the same. This nationally focused site defines the priorities of ombudsmen as being to:
- Advocate for residents' rights and quality care
- Educate consumers and providers
- Resolve residents' complaints
- Provide information to the public
Steve Gold's Nuggets
One of my personal favorites over time with respect to regular email newsletters full of pertinent information is Steve Gold's Nuggets. His website came to mind for inclusion on this particular webpage because he regularly forwards various research results and data on how states are doing with respect to moving residents from nursing homes out into the community for full, inclusive lives. If a search of Steve's archives shows that he presents information of interest to you, signup instructions for his regular newsletter are available on his homepage.
Consumer Reports: Shopping for a nursing home
The Consumer Reports' Shopping for a nursing home section is an interesting little find I accidentally stumbled across while searching for background on related information. Among the included topics they cover, one will find: 2004 Nursing Home Watch List, Observing care, and Ensuring good care.
The 2004 Nursing Home Watch List is searchable by state and checks off whether or not facilities listed are currently on their list. In Consumer Reports's words, their list identifies approximately 10% of each state's nursing homes. The long term care (LTC) facilities presented on their Watch List were deemed by Consumer Reports to be worthy of being watched and/or pushed for immediate reform in their quality of rendered services..
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