FLORIDA SHOULD PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR ITS ELDERS. EVERY INTERVENTION POSSIBLE SHOULD BE USED IN TERMS OF HOME CARE AND COMMUNITY BASED CARE TO ALLOW OUR ELDERLY AND INFIRM TO AGE IN PLACE IN THEIR OWN HOME WITH DIGNITY.  THAT IS CLEARLY THE DIRECTION WHICH FLORIDA NEEDS TO FOLLOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BABY BOOMERS IN THE COMING YEARS. 

  BUT EVENTUALLY, FOR MANY, A NURSING HOME IS THE FINAL HOME.  NURSING HOMES ARE  A VITAL COMPONENT OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.  THEY ALWAYS WILL BE.  THEY ARE HERE TO STAY, BUT THEY MUST BE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB RIGHT.

THE COMING EMPHASIS ON HOME  CARE AND COMMUNITY BASED CARE REQUIRES A SHIFT IN RESOURCES AWAY FROM NURSING HOMES, WHICH HAVE RECEIVED THE MAJOR CHUNK OF THE PIE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

BUT, IMPORTANTLY, THOSE WHO LIVE IN NURSING HOMES MUST NOT BE ABANDONED IN THE RUSH TO PLACE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED CARE.  THEIR FINAL YEARS SHOULD NOT BE “HELL ON EARTH”.  (THE WORDS ARE RESIDENTS’ – NOT MINE.)

 NOT ALL NURSING HOMES ARE BAD.  SOME ARE GOOD, SOME ARE VERY GOOD, AND I THINK WE AGREE THAT THOSE WHICH ARE FAITH BASED ARE GENERALLY DOING A GOOD JOB AND UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE WEB WOVEN BY MEGA CORPORATIONS WITH HIGH PROFIT MOTIVES.   THERE SHOULD BE SOME SPECIAL RELIEF FOR FAITH BASED NURSING HOMES , IN FACT, ALL NURSING HOMES WHICH ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. 

 BUT SOME, IN FACT, MANY, ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.

 THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY IS IN CRISIS.   YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THAT A LOT IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.    THERE IS A CRISIS,   BUT WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THE INDUSTRY ON THE NATURE OF THE CRISIS OR ITS CAUSE.

 THE CRISIS  IS ONE OF CARE – OF THE RESIDENT’S RIGHT TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY,  AND HIS OR HER RIGHT  TO A CONSISTENT REASONABLE DEGREE OF CARE.

  IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO  THE  NURSING HOME INDUSTRY HAS REPEATEDLY TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THE CRISIS  IS THE RESULT OF LOW MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS, AND ALSO THE FAULT OF LAWYERS IN FLORIDA WHO FILE FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS THAT MAKE FLORIDA’S  LIABILITY INSURANCE PREMIUMS SKY ROCKET BEYOND WHAT ANY NURSING HOME CAN PAY,  PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE INDUSTRY.

 THE FAILURE OF THE INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT REASONABLE CARE IS WHAT HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO LAWSUITS.  THE CRISIS IS NOT THE LAWSUITS OR THE LAWYERS OR THE SKYROCKETING LIABILITY INSURANCE PREMIUMS OR LOW MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS.  IT IS THE QUALITY OF CARE ISSUES.

 STUDIES RELEASED BY THE GAO HAVE SHOWN THAT THE REIMBURSEMENTS ARE NOT ONLY ADEQUATE, BUT THEY MAY EVEN BE EXCESSIVE.    RESEARCHERS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON LONG TERM CARE REPORTED THAT THE LAWSUITS FILED WERE CLEARLY NOT FRIVOLOUS, BUT WERE WELL FOUNDED, AND MR. HUGH NELSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHERN GROUP, ONE OF THE FEW INSURANCE GROUPS STILL PROVIDING LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR NURSING HOMES IN FLORIDA,  HAS STATED THAT THESE LAW SUITS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE COSTING EXORBITANT AMOUNT, ARE NOT FRIVOLOUS.  THEY ARE BASED ON THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG IN THOSE FACILITIES.

TESTIMONY PRESENTED LAST SUMMER  BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING REGARDING THE CAUSES OF THE RECENT BANKRUPTCIES FILED BY FIVE OF THE NATION’S 10 LARGEST NURSING HOME CHAINS ESTABLISHED THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE BANKRUPTCIES TO BE:
 

  THE CRISIS IN OUR NURSING HOMES IS ONE OF THE INDUSTRY’S OWN MAKING.  IT RESTS IN THE SAD, AND IN MANY CASES,  DEPLORABLE  CARE GIVEN TO  NURSING HOME RESIDENTS --  AN EXTREMELY VULNERABLE POPULATION   DEPENDENT ON OTHERS TO PROVIDE THE BASIC NEEDS OF LIFE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS --  BASIC NEEDS --  NOT VELVET CURTAINS AND SHINY FURNITURE – BUT  THE RIGHT MEDICINE AND PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THEIR CONDITION AT THE RIGHT TIME, NOURISHING FOOD, HYDRATION --  BEING KEPT CLEAN AND DRY -- AND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS TO  MINIMIZE PREVENTABLE ILLNESSES, FALLS, AND BED SORES.

 LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN, IF THE CARE WAS REASONABLE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS , THE
LAWSUITS WOULD GO AWAY. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.   BUT REASONABLE CARE IS, BY AND LARGE, SIMPLY NOT THERE.

 CLEARLY, THE ACTIONS OF FLORIDA ATTORNEYS IN PURSUING CASES INVOLVING DENIAL OF RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS REPRESENT THE LAST VESTIGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF AN INDUSTRY WHICH IS EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING, OR BOTH, TO MONITOR ITSELF,AND IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

 THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY IS NO LONGER PRIMARILY A  COLLECTION OF SMALL COMMUNITY AND FAITH BASED HOMES.  WHILE THERE ARE STILL SOME FAITH BASED HOMES, AND IN MANY CASES THESE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE AMONG THOSE PROVIDING THE BEST CARE, A MAJORITY OF FACILITIES HAVE BEEN LARGELY SWALLOWED UP BY HUGE NURSING HOME  CORPORATE CHAINS WITH PROFIT MOTIVES GALORE.

 IN 1995 THE GAO REPORTED THAT AMERICA WAS BEING DEFRAUDED IN HUGE AMOUNTS BY AN INDUSTRY THAT CHARGED FOR CARE THAT WAS NEVER DELIVERED.  FURTHER, IT  EXPOSED WIDESPREAD MEDICARE FRAUD, INSIDER TRADING, SECURITIES FRAUD, FALSE CLAIMS, BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, AND UNJUST ENRICHMENT. 

FLORIDIANS, IN FACT ALL AMERICANS,  PAID FOR THIS FRAUD IN DOLLARS, BUT THE HELPLESS NURSING HOME RESIDENTS PAID WITH THEIR LARGELY PREVENTABLE  PAIN AND SUFFERING, AND WITH PREVENTABLY EARLY DEATH.

 OVER THE YEARS, THESE CORPORATIONS GREW FAT BY QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES.

 IN THE  2 YEARS FOLLOWING THE 1995 REPORT, (THAT IS, 1996 AND 1997) THE FOLLOWING BOTTOM LINE NET OPERATING PROFIT WAS REPORTED BY THE LARGEST NURSING HOME CHAINS IN  THEIR SEC FILINGS AND PROXY STATEMENTS (COMBINED FOR THE 2 YEARS AND USING ROUNDED FIGURES):
 

 AND  IN THOSE SAME YEARS THEIR CEO’S MADE THE FOLLOWING TOTAL COMPENSATION (SALARIES AND OTHER COMPENSATION FOR THE 2 YEARS COMBINED, USING ROUNDED FIGURES)
 

(DO YOU WONDER HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL HANDS ON STAFF COULD HAVE BEEN HIRED WITH JUST  A SMALL PORTION OF THOSE SUMS?)

WHEN  JURORS AND OUR CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FRAUD AND NEGLECT THAT WAS RAMPANT IN THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY THEY BEGAN TO HOLD THE MEGA CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BAD ACTIONS AND THEIR FAILURE OF  GOOD CARE FOR RESIDENTS.

 THE PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM WHICH WAS INSTITUTED IN  1997  MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE INDUSTRY TO DEFRAUD TAXPAYERS, AND THE  CORPORATIONS THEN APPARENTLY FOUND THE EASIEST THING TO DO TO INCREASE WANING PROFITS WAS TO CUT STAFF, CUT BACK ON CRITICAL SUPPLIES, AND SQUEEZE PATIENT SERVICES TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. 

 THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION REPORTED THAT NURSING HOME VIOLATIONS INCREASED 50% FROM 1997 TO 1998.

 APPROXIMATELY 2/3 OF FLORIDA’S NURSING HOMES HAVE APPEARED ON THE AGENCY’S “WATCH LIST” IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, RESULTING FROM SERIOUS OR REPEATED VIOLATIONS.  SOME HAVE BEEN ON THE WATCH LIST REPEATEDLY, AS MANY AS 9 OR  10 TIMES DURING THAT PERIOD.

 A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA STUDY SHOWS THAT FLORIDA’S NURSING HOMES HAD 40 PERCENT MORE VIOLATIONS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THAT FLORIDA IS WELL ABAOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN 8 OF 10 DEFICIENCY CATEGORIES,  AND FELL IN THE BOTTOM 10 IN THE COUNTRY IN SOME OF THOSE DEFICIENCY CATEGORIES.

 STILL,  HUGE AMOUNTS OF FRAUD HAVE CONTINUED.

 DURING THE LAST YEAR, BEVERLY ENTERPRISES AGREED TO REPAY $175 MILLION OF THE $460 MILLION IT STOLE FROM TAXPAYERS. 

INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY, AT A TIME WHEN IT HAD FORGIVEN PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON A $4 MILLION LOAN TO ITS CEO, ROBERT ELKINS, WHO EARNED $44 MILLION A YEAR;

VENCOR AGREED TO REPAY $90 MILLION, AND SOME OF ITS EXECUTIVES WERE GIVEN JAIL TIME.  THE USDOJ IS SEEKING $1.3 BILLION IN FINES FROM THIS COMPANY FOR “INTENTIONALLY DEFRAUDING THE GOVERNMENT”

THE SEC FILINGS FOR SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC. REPORTED NUMEROUS  WHISTLEBLOWER SUITS FOR FALSE CLAIMS WERE PENDING.  THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IDENTIFIED OVERPAYMENTS TO SUN THAT COULD TOTAL BETWEEN $40 AND $55 MILLION.

THE SEC FILING ON JANUARY 24, 2000 FOR MARINER POST ACUTE NETWORK, INC. REFLECTED THAT A CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT WAS ASSERTED AGAINST THE COMPANY, FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, UNJUST ENRICHMENT, VIOLATION OF FLORIDA CIVIL REMEDIES FOR CRIMINAL PRACTICES ACT, AND VIOLATION OF FLORIDA RACKETEER AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATION ACT, FALSE ADVERTISING AND COMMON LAW CONSPIRACY ARISING OUT OF QUALITY OF CARE ISSUES.

THE SEC FILINGS FOR NEW CARE HEALTH CORPORATION REFLECTED PENDING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR MEDICAID FRAUD, RACKETEERING, GRAND THEFT AND ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY.

 SOME VERY INTERESTING STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN  MADE TYING THESE FRAUD ISSUES TO CARE --

 ROD SMITH, A STATE ATTORNEY IN FLORIDA, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING “BILLS WERE SUBMITTED TO MEDICAID FOR LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHILE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED FELL WELL BELOW STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS.”

AND

2 MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE  REPORTED THAT  HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASES ONCE AGAIN TOPPED THE LIST OF CIVIL FRAUD RECOVERIES  WITH  MORE THAN $840 MILLION,  ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVID OGDEN  STATED THAT “HEALTH CARE FRAUD IMPOSES ENORMOUS COSTS ON AMERICAN TAXPAYERS AND DECREASES THE QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS.”

 IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INDUSTRY WILL NEED SOME HELP WITH INSURANCE COVERAGE RATHER QUICKLY – PARTICULARLY FAITH BASED HOMES, IN FACT ANY HOMES WITH GOOD PERFORMANCE RECORDS.  SOMETHING COULD PERHAPS BE DONE WITH JOINT UNDERWRITING AS WAS DONE IN THE HOMEOWNERS’ INSURANCE SITUATION SOME YEARS AGO, OR WITH SPECIALLY DESIGNED RISK MANAGEMENT OPTIONS.  SURELY THE BRIGHEST MINDS IN FLORIDA CAN DEVELOP SOME TYPE OF INSURANCE ASSISTANCE  TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM SHORT OF REMOVING FROM NURSING HOME RESIDENTS THE RIGHT TO HOLD THEIR PAID CAREGIVERS ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT THE INDUSTRY WILL PROPOSE TO YOU SOME VERY DRASTIC CHANGES TO THE LAWS GOVERNING NURSING HOME LITIGATION AS THE ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION TO THIS CRISIS. 

THE PROPOSED CHANGES COVER A FAIRLY WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES,  FROM  PRE SUIT ACTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE TO SEVERE CAPS ON RECOVERIES, PUNITIVE DAMAGES AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE EGREGIOUS LEVEL OF THE CAUSE OF ACTION.

 ONE OF ITS PROPOSALS IS PARTICULARLY ONEROUS.    PROOF OF DEVIATION FROM THE PREVAILING STANDARD OF CARE – WHAT THAT SAYS TO US IS  THAT IF THE PREVAILING STANDARD OF CARE IS ROTTEN, THEN ROTTEN  IS OKAY.   WE  SIMPLY CANNOT  AGREE WITH THAT.

SIMILAR LAWS HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT IN TEXAS FOR SOME TIME AND ELSEWHERE.  THE TEXAS CAPS AND CURBS HAVE NOT STOPPED THE SKYROCKETING INSURANCE PREMIUMS.  RIGHT NOW THE VERY SAME SKY ROCKETING PREMIUMS EXIST THERE, SO THAT IS CLEARLY NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER.

THE INDUSTRY PROPOSAL REALLY MEANS THAT RESIDENTS WILL BE DENIED THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE  THEIR STATUTORY RIGHT TO QUALITY OF LIFE.  THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD THE INDUSTRY ACCOUNTAABLE.  THE INDUSTRY WILL BE FREE TO COMMIT THE SAME HORRIFIC ELDER ABUSE WHICH WERE ENUMERATED IN GRAND JURY REPORTS  AND WHICH WERE THE MOVING FORCE THAT  CAUSED THE RESIDENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE ADOPTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHILE SOME TWEAKING OF THE EXISTING LAW MAY BE APPROPRIATE, IT IS TOTALLY UNCONSCIONABLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE VULNERABLE NURSING HOME RESIDENT POPULATION ITS LAST VESTIGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE INDUSTRY, AS A WHOLE, MUST CHANGE, WHOLESALE FRAUD HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, AND DEFICIENCIES IN CARE ABOUND.  PEOPLE NOW UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF POOR CARE ON THE LIVES OF THEIR LOVED ONES, AND WILL NO LONGER STAND FOR IT.  PERHAPS THEY ARE DRIVEN BY THE THOUGHT THAT IT IS THE CARE THEY THEMSELVES MAY RECEIVE IN THE FUTURE.

THE CRISIS IS ONE OF CARE.  IF REASONABLE CONSISTENT  CARE IS GIVEN, THE LAWSUITS WOULD GO AWAY.  IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

IN A NURSING HOME, CARE IS TOTALLY DRIVEN BY STAFFING, STAFFING IS EVERYTHING.  THEREFORE, THERE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED A STRICT RATIO OF STAFF TO RESIDENTS:

1 AIDE TO 6 RESIDENTS AND 1 NURSE TO 10 RESIDENTS FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. AND

1 AIDE TO 10 RESIDENTS AND 1 NURSE TO 15 RESIDENTS FROM  8 P.M. TO 7 A.M.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SHOULD NOT BE COUNTED IN DETERMINING DEFICIENCES IN THOSE RATIOS, AND APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE, HOUSEKEEPING,  MAINTENANCE AND LALUNDRY STAFF SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON DUTY,

 PROGRAMS OF GOOD CARE COST MONEY.  CLEARLY SOME OF THE MONIES IMPROPERLY USED BY THE INDUSTRY WERE DEVOTED TO CARE, A GREAT DEAL OF THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED, 

 BUT, IN ADDITION, WE BELIEVE THERE IS A VERY OBVIOUS AND VERY LEGITIMATE FUNDING SOURCE AVAILABLE.  IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMPUTATION OF THE AMOUNT PAYABLE TO FLORIDA UNDER THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WAS BASED, AT LEAST IN PART, UPON THE COST TO FLORIDA OF CARING FOR ITS CITIZENS WHOSE HEALTH WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SMOKING, AND WHO WERE CARED FOR UNDER MEDICAID.  THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA WHO ARE NOW CARED FOR WHO FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.

 WE UNDERSTAND A STUDY WAS DONE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO BY FSU, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE COST TO FLORIDA OF CARING FOR OUR CITIZENS IN NURSING HOMES AS A RESULT OF SMOKING RELATED DISEASES WAS ABOUT $107 MILLION ANNUALLY.

 SUREY A PORTION OF THIS FUNDS COULD VERY LEGITIMATELY BE USED FOR LONG TERM CARE.

  THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE – IT AFFECTS ALL OF US SOONER OR LATER.   A NURSING HOME IS ONLY A FREAK AUTO ACCIDENT, A SLIP AND FALL, OR A STROKE AWAY.

 SOME OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE NURSING HOME REFORM ACT ENACTED IN 1999 HAVE STILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED.  ONE VERY IMPORTANT PROVISION IS THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT NEW RULES FOR NURSING HOME STAFFING. 

 THE AGENCY DID HOLD SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS AROUND THE STATE DURING THE IN 1999 AND 2000, AND ULTIMATELY IN JULY 2000 PROPOSED TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE PROPOSED RATIOS.  BECAUSE THERE WERE ENORMOUS PROTESTS AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF THESE RULES THEY WERE ULTIMATELY WITHDRAWN BY THE AGENCY.

 NOW THE AGENCY HAS BEGUN ANOTHER SERIES OF HEARINGS.  ONE WAS HELD IN MIAMI RECENTLY, AND THE SECOND IS TO BE HELD IN ST. PETERSBURG ON JANUARY 24TH.
THE HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE SUNSHINE CENTER, 330 - 5TH. STREET NORTH,
ST. PETERSBURG, BEGINNING AT 10.00 A.M.

  THE AGENCY WANTS TO HAVE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUGGESTED RATIOS
( IN ADDITION TO ANY “WAR STORIES” YOU MAY WISH TO GIVE).

 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RATIO SUGGESTIONS OUT THERE. 
THE RATIO WE BELIEVE IS BEST FOR RESIDENTS IS SET OUT IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE. 

 THESE RATIOS WERE DEVELOPED IN PART ON THE BASIS OF THE FACT THAT FLORIDA PRESENTLY REQUIRES 1 STAFF MEMBER TO EACH 6 PARTICIPANTS IN ADULT DAY CARE, AND 1 STAFF MEMBER TO EACH 3 ALZHEIMERS’ PARTICIPANTS IN ADULT DAY CARE.   OBVIOUSLY THE ACUITY OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN STILL BE CARED FOR IN THEIR HOME, WITH HELP.  THAT ONLY MAKES COMMON SENSE.   SO THE RATIO SHOULD EVEN BE BETTER, BUT IN ANY EVENT AT LEAST EQUAL.  AND THE RATIO SHOULD EXIST DURING ALL DAYLIGHT HOURS, NOT JUST UNTIL 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. 

 IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME INPUT IN THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ATTEND THE HEARING IN PRSON, BUT IF YOU CAN’T PLEASE CALL, WRITE, E MAIL, FAX OR SNAIL MAIL TO:

  MR. RICHARD KELLY
  AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
  2727 MAHAN DRIVE
  TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32308-5403
  Tel.: 850-488-5861 
  e mail:  [email protected]
  Fax 850-410-1512

AND PLEASE SEND A COPY TO THE NIGHT WATCHMAN, AND WE WILL BE SURE THEY ARE ALSO HAND DELIVERED.  (see mailing address and new e mail address below)

DON’T FORGET TO GIVE SPECIFIC RATIOS (NUMBERS) FOR STAFFING, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER INFORMATION WHICH YOU WISH TO PROVIDE.

 IN CONCLUDING ITS 2000 ANNUAL MEETING, THE NATIONAL CITIZENS COALITION FOR NURSING HOME REFORM KICKED OFF ITS PETITION DRIVE DEMANDING ADDITIONAL NURSING HOME STAFFING.  MANY PARTICIPANTS HELD A RALLY ON THIS ISSUE AT THE ENTRANCE TO UNION STATION, JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE CAPITOL.

 A COPY OF THE PETITION IS ATTACHED, AND CAN BE FREELY DUPLICATED. 

 THE NCCNHR GOAL IS TO  DELIVER 100,000 SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS TO THE NEW CONGRESS, AND THEN ONE MILLION SIGNATURES BY THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING (OCT/NOV.2001). 

 IF YOU WANT TO HELP WITH THIS DRIVE, PLEASE GET AS MANY SIGNATURES AS POSSIBLE, AND FORWARD THE PETITIONS TO:

  NCCNHR PETITION DRIVE
  1424 – 16TH STREET NW, SUITE 202
  WASHINGTON DC  20036-2211

DON’T DELAY – SEND PAGES AS YOU GET THEM.

 WE NEED TO LET OUR “FEARLESS LEADERS” IN WASHINGTON KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THIS IMPROTANT ISSUE.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    ADVOCACY

THERE ARE ADVOCATES IN FLORIDA WHO ARE WORKING CONSTANTLY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND QUALITY OF CARE FOR OUR LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES.  EACH HAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH, BUT HAVE THE SAME HEART.  YOUR EDITOR WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOME OF THESE, INCLUDING:

NAT’L CITIZENS COALITION FOR NURSING HOME REFORM.  www.nccnhr.org  (202-332-2275)
COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S ELDERS.  www.protectelders.org (1-877-262-5484)
FLORIDA ADVOCATES FOR NURSING HOME IMPROVEMENT:  Tel. : (1-888-647-3367)
FIGHTING ELDER ABUSE TOGETHER, INC., (F.E.A.T.)
[email protected] NOTE:  THERE IS AN UNDERSCORE _ BETWEEN AHLER AND FRIDDLE)  Tel.: (321) 984-8883 or  (321) 725-5386. (This group is newly organized in Palm Bay/Melbourne area)

                      IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT TO THE EDITOR YOU MAY E MAIL TO:

     Or write The Night Watchman, P. O. Box 13553, Tampa, Florida 33681-3553

More than one million Americans live in nursing homes where there are not enough nurses and nursing assistants to give good care, according to a report to Congress.  Forty percent of nursing home residents are malnourished or dehydrated because no one helps them eat and drink regularly. Thousands have painful bedsores that could be prevented. Thousands can’t move painfully wasted arms and legs because no one helps them exercise.  Many lie for hours in their own waste every day.  Medical conditions are ignored until it is too late.

The government just stop unnecessary suffering, illness and death caused by understaffing in nursing homes!

We, the undersigned voters, call on our Senators and Representatives to support mandatory staffing standards in nursing homes. We urge you to require nursing homes to provide appropriate ratios of nurses and nursing assistants to residents.

Name                                   Street                          City,State &Zip Code

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
 

RETURN THIS FORM TO:  NATIONAL CITIZENS COALITION FOR NURSING HOME REFORM
      1424  16TH STREET, NW, WASHINGTON DC 20036
      202/332-2275      fax  202/332-2949

PLEASE COPY THIS FORM IF YOU NEED MORE, OR DOWNLOAD FROM NCCNHR’S WEB SITE
AT www.nccnhr.org