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Updated Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes
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This toolkit Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes | LTCFs | CDC helps nursing home infection preventionists and leadership prepare for and respond to nursing home residents or healthcare personnel (HCP) who develop signs or symptoms of a respiratory viral infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extensively updated the resources section, including links to information on this season’s vaccine recommendations, testing and treatment, billing and payment, and infection prevention and control. While the toolkit is tailored toward nursing homes, the resources and many of the listed actions could be adapted for use in other long-term care settings.
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Latest Data on Direct Care Workforce
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The Public Health Institute (PHI) issues its annual data report Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts 2024, describing the direct care workforce in three settings: home care, residential care, and nursing homes. The report addresses worker demographics, occupational roles, job quality challenges, and projected job openings. PHI notes that even with pandemic-related increases, median annual earnings remain low ($25,015 for all direct care workers), leading to recruitment and retention challenges in all three settings. Over the next decade, PHI identifies an increased need for direct care workers in home and community-based settings (HCBS) and a decreased need for direct care workers in nursing homes, reflecting consumer preferences and public policies that increase HCBS funding.
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Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Protect One Another and Join the Fight Against Internet Crime
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The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the national hub for reporting cyber-crime and is managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Every day, the FBI receives thousands of complaints reporting a wide variety of scams- many of them targeting the elderly. Combatting the financial exploitation of those over 60 years of age continues to be a priority of the FBI.
Anyone can become a victim of internet crime! Take action for yourself and loved ones by reporting it. If you believe you or a loved one have fallen victim to cyber-crime, you can file a report online using IC3. Your information is invaluable in helping the FBI bring cybercriminals to justice. To learn more about cyber-crimes, reporting, and how to protect your cyberspace and online security, click here.
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The IC3 reported losses topping $3.4 billion in 2023, an almost 11% increase in losses reported in 2022.
To read the full 2023 FBI Elder Fraud Report here.
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Knowledge is key to preventing cyber-crime
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LTC Resident’s Voter Guide: Tips for Being a Prepared and Informed Voter
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Election season is an exciting time that offers a renewed opportunity to shape public policy.
If you live in a nursing home, federal nursing home regulations emphasize that you have the same rights as any other citizen of the United States – this includes your right to vote!
Individuals receiving long-term services and supports retain their voting rights, no matter where they live or what type of care they receive. LTC residents have a harder time voting due to mobility, health, and other issues that inhibit their ability to vote.
CMS issued a memo on September 26 clarifying Compliance with Residents’ Rights Requirement related to Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote. In the memo the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services affirms the regulatory expectation that ensures nursing home residents have the unimpeded ability to exercise their right to vote as a citizen of the United States.
• Nursing homes must ensure residents are able to exercise their Constitutional right to vote without interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from the facility.
• States, localities, and nursing home owners and administrators should collaborate to support a resident’s right to vote.
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2024 Voting Information and FAQs:
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- The 2024 General Election is November 5, 2024. The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 General Election is October 7, 2024 no later than 4:00 p.m. local time.
Voters are eligible to receive an absentee ballot mailed to the residential address in the county in which they are registered if their completed application is received fourteen (14) days before an election and if the voter is: Prevented from voting in person at the polls on election day and from casting an excused or no-excuse in-person absentee ballot on all days in-person absentee voting is conducted because he or she will be absent from the county of his or her residence all hours and all days excused, or no-excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted; a participant in the Secretary of State’s crime victim address confidentiality protection program as authorized by KRS 14.312; or not able to appear at the polls on election day or the days excused or no-excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted on the account of age, disability, or illness, and who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Q: I have a guardian. Can I still vote? Ask your guardian what the guardianship order says. If you were appointed your guardian before June 26, 2007 it’s very likely you lost your right to vote. It used to be an automatic loss of voting rights when a guardian was appointed. If you were appointed a guardian after June 26, 2007 and the order doesn’t say your right was removed, you are able to vote. If you were appointed a guardian before June 26, 2007 or the order says that your right was removed, you can ask a judge for that right to be returned. This is called restoration.
- Q: How do I ask for restoration? You can ask for restoration in three ways: verbally telling the district court clerk that you want to have your rights restored; write a letter to the district court Judge stating you want your rights restored; or file a “Petition for Relief, Modification, or Termination” which is accessible at your local district court clerk’s office or online. There will be a hearing scheduled so that you may speak with the Judge, who decides if your voting rights will be restored.
- Q: Someone is my Power of Attorney (POA). Can I still vote? Yes. POA isn’t the same as guardianship. You still have all of your legal rights, including your right to vote.
If you have more questions about voting check out the KY Protection and Advocacy’s Your Voice Your Vote booklet for the answers to frequently asked questions such as the ones below.
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Staff and Volunteer Spotlights
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In Kentucky’s LTCOP, our staff and volunteers make a real difference in the lives of those we serve. Check out some awesome advocates below!
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Saylor Blanford
Saylor Blanford is currently interning at the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass. She is an undergrad at the University of Kentucky and is studying clinical leadership & management. Saylor is no stranger to advocacy! Besides being a full-time student and interning, Saylor works at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, where she provides initial and long-term services to help refugee families rebuild their lives.
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Don Masterson
Don Masterson has volunteered for the KIPDA LTCOP at Catholic Charities in Louisville for 25 years. Don is a friendly visitor in the program and enjoys visiting with LTC residents. District ombudsman, Erika Rhodes-Chism, says Don is a former foster parent and preacher who brings much comfort to the LTC residents he visits.
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Don Masterson is featured third from the right.
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Amy Morris
Amy Morris is a social work student at Campbellsville College and is currently interning with the Northern KY LTCO Program. She recently became a certified LTCO and is working closely with District LTCO Bethany Breckel to ensure residents in Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton counties are receiving regular visits and LTCO services.
Amy has a passion for serving her community and working with older adults. She loves spending time with her husband, Ben and son, Augustine “Auggie”. In her free time, Amy enjoys attending outdoor events with family and friends.
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Thank you to our staff and volunteers. You make a difference!
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Community Education and Engagement
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Pictured above are Regional Ombudsman Mark Burress, Sister Rosemany, and District Ombudsman Erika Rhodes-Chism. Sister Rosemary is a retired hospital Chaplin. Ombudsmen regularly make unannounced visits to long-term care facilities, provide information about residents’ rights and work to resolve problems on behalf of residents.
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Buffalo Trace LTCOP has partnered with their local nursing homes, assisted living facilities and community to engage and educate seniors living with dementia. Memory Cafes provide a welcoming and enjoyable environment for seniors with dementia, and their care givers, by offering meaningful activities and education. For more information on Memory Cafes in the Buffalo Trace District contact Amanda Grooms.
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October is Residents’ Rights Month!
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October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated by Consumer Voice to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities and those receiving care in their home or community. It is an opportunity to focus on and celebrate the dignity and rights of every individual receiving long-term services and supports.
Residents have the right to self-determination and to use their voice to make their own choices. This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme, The Power of My Voice, emphasizes self-empowerment and recognizes the power of residents being vocal about their interests, personal growth, and right to live full, enriching lives.
Click here to access resources and promotional materials for Residents’ Rights month on Consumer Voice’s webpage.
To check out our guide on Residents’ Rights, click here and visit our webpage!
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What’s an Ombudsman?
Ombudsmen advocate for residents of long-term care facilities at no charge to residents or families.
Long-Term Care Ombudsmen
- Regularly make unannounced visits to long-term care facilities to visit residents.
- Protect the special legal rights of residents.
- Identify, investigate, and resolve residents’ problems and concerns.
- Empower residents to make informed choices.
- Work to monitor laws/policies to protect residents.
Long-term care ombudsmen serve residents in all counties in Kentucky. Visit our website!
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The Kentucky State LTC Ombudsman Program is housed within the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass.
The KLTCOP is funded in part by state and federal funding provided by the Department for Aging and Independent Living.
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