Jessica Brill Ortiz – The Consumer Voice, “Empowered, Effective and Independent Family Councils,” on March 21, 9AM PST/12PM EST

Join me as I interview, Jessica Brill Ortiz, program director of The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care as we discuss: “Empowered, Effective and Independent Family Councils,” on March 21, 9AM PST, 12PM EST on blogtalkradio.com/kindethics.

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care was founded in 1975 out of public concern for the quality of care in nursing homes by Elma L. Holder as the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR). The Consumer Voice advocates for public policies that support quality care and quality of life in all long-term care settings. The Consumer Voice also advocates for a strong, sufficient direct-care workforce and promotes best practices in delivering quality care. The Consumer Voice represents consumers and advocates who define and achieve quality for people with long-term care needs. They accomplish these efforts through:

Advocating for public policies that support quality of care and life;
Empowering and educating consumers and families;
Training and supporting individuals and groups to advocate for and empower consumers; and
Promoting the critical role of direct-care workers and best practices in quality-care delivery.

Under federal law, family members in a long-term care facility can join together to form a united consumer voice which can communicate concerns to facility administrators and work for resolutions and improvements by forming an independent family council. Family councils can play a crucial role in voicing concerns, requesting improvements, supporting new family members and residents and supporting facility efforts to work for high quality of care and life in the facility. Family councils also have many rights defined under the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act. For example, when a family group exists, the facility must listen to the views and act upon the grievances and recommendations of residents and families concerning proposed policy and operational decisions affecting resident care and life in the facility. The Consumer Voice has resources, information and opportunities for family councils; visit www.theconsumervoice.org to learn more. The Family Council Center contains information, tips and tools such as fact sheets, ways to take action, sample council materials, opportunities and more.

Have a kind and respectful day.