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This Week's Top News:
Congress Considers 2008 Housing Funding: Contact Them Now Before It's Too Late
This week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation-U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will hear from HUD officials about their funding priorities for the next fiscal year. Help us make sure they know affordable senior housing should be one of them. Use our sample letter to write your legislators about the need to increase affordable senior housing funding to help all older adults find a place they can call home. Contact: Alayna Waldrum, (202) 508-9476; or Nancy Libson, (202) 508-9447.
Contact your legislators.
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GAO Report Discusses Nursing Home Enforcement
The General Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report today that says, "efforts to strengthen federal enforcement have not deterred some [nursing] homes from repeatedly harming residents." In the report, GAO recommends that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services develop an administrative process for collecting civil money penalties more expeditiously and seek legislation to implement this process effectively, as appropriate; (2) strengthen its immediate sanctions policy; (3) expand its oversight of homes with a history of harming residents; and (4) improve the effectiveness of its enforcement data systems. The report was covered in the New York Times and several other newspapers. Our press statement can help you respond to questions from residents, family or community members. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.
Read AAHSA's press statement on the report.
AAHSA Community Helps You Prepare for Natural Disasters
Hurricane season is coming. Join our disaster help online community to address your organization's can transportation, information/assistance and communication concerns before a disaster happens. As a community member, you can notify other members and your association about your relocation plans, send them emergency contact information, offer assistance to other members, find model evacuation plans and more. Sign up now and make the most of the information and support of AAHSA and your fellow members.
Contact: Lauren Shaham, (202) 508-1219.
Join our disaster help community.
Make your Philanthropy Relationships and Messages Matter
Attention fundraising and development professionals: don't miss AAHSA's Philanthropy Summer Forum, July 16-17, in Boston, Mass. At this year's forum, you'll explore how new fundraising and messaging strategies and techniques will help you build enduring relationships and achieve financial success. Read the forum brochure for complete program details and registration information. Registration closes on June 8, so save yourself a spot today. Contact: meetings@aahsa.org, (888) 508-9441
See the brochure.
Report Summarizes Greatness in Aging Services
AAHSA and LarsonAllen recently released a report that highlights a "Pathway to Greatness" that AAHSA members to take. The report features information about factors that contribute to high performance, recognizes the achievements of "great" organizations and most important, offers ideas and insights that you can use to help your organization move forward on its own "Pathway to Greatness" and Quality First journey. Contact: Juliane Walsh, (704) 998-5215.
Read the report.
Recognize Your Nurse Leader
How? Nominate him or her for AAHSA's Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS) Joan Anne McHugh Award for Leadership in Long-term Care Nursing. This award recognizes nurses who provide excellent clinical care and are also leaders committed to the long-term care nursing field. All nurses who work for AAHSA-member organizations and meeting other eligibility criteria may be nominated. The winner of this honor will receive a $500 personal and $1,000 professional development award and national recognition at AAHSA's 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando. All entries must be postmarked by July 13. Contact: Alisha Sanders, (202) 508-1211.
Start your nomination form.
CMS Information on NPI Compliance Contingency Guidance
For health care plans and providers that do not receive their NPI by May 23, CMS posted new frequently-asked-questions about the NPI Compliance Contingency Guidance. The questions that are answered include what CMS will deem an acceptable contingency plan, why the contingency period is limited and more. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Read the questions and answers.
Emergency Capital Repair Funding Still Available
We estimate that almost $15 million in emergency capital repair needs grant funding is still available from HUD. These grants fund emergency capital repairs to multifamily projects owned by private nonprofit senior housing providers for conditions that immediately threaten residents' health, safety and quality of life. The grants provide one-time assistance for emergency items that could not be absorbed within the project's operating budget and other project resources. To apply, send an application to your local field office. Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
Read about the funding.
Advancing Excellence Campaign Update:
How Can Your Nursing Home Become a "Trailblazer" For Excellence?
By signing up for the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes campaign. Nearly 4,000 nursing homes nationwide have become "Advancing Excellence Trailblazers." If your organization signs up by May 14, you will receive same recognition and publicity. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
See which nursing homes in your state have registered.
Find out how nursing home can register.
Learn more about the campaign.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Update and Resources
When it comes to LEP, the fight for is not over yet. AAHSA continues to urge HUD to develop for more LEP guidance and resources, including toll-free language phone services. In the meantime, we advise you to review the latest fact sheets and resources to comply with the guidance. Visit the HUD Web site to find facts sheets on creating a language assistance plan. You can also pre-order tapes of our audio conference on LEP and what you can do to meet this guidance in your community. Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
 3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet? |
Consumers are always looking for the best way to find the right provider for them. Most guides, however, just focus on an organization's costs and basic services. That's not the case with AAHSA's new Consumers' Guide to Quality Aging Services. This guide includes questions that help consumers find organizations with values-driven management and a commitment to continuous quality improvement. Sharing this guide and answering the questions openly can help you become a provider of choice in your community. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
Download the Guide.
Quality Transcends Borders at IAHSA Conference
Join providers like you at the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing's Conference, held from June 18-20 in St. Julian's, Malta. This unrivaled educational event is designed to help you and your staff learn about the latest ideas and innovations in aging-services leadership, technology and research from around the world. Register now and start harnessing the power of our global community in your organization.
Contact: Alysha Liljeqvist, (202) 508-9468.
Visit the conference Web site.
Tell Us the State of Seniors Housing
In cooperation with the American Senior Housing Association and National Investment Center, AAHSA is participating in a survey of senior housing members. Those members who are independent living communities, assisted living residences, Alzheimer's care facilities and CCRC's that have been open for two years are encouraged to participate. All providers who participate will receive a complimentary copy of The State of Seniors Housing 2007. Contact: Steve Maag, (202) 508-9498.
Take part in the survey.
What Have You Done for Fair Housing Month?
This month is a great time to be sure you've done and documented any training provided for staff, residents and volunteers on fair housing issues. There are plenty and training programs and articles available that you can share to ensure your community is a place where people can receive the services they need, when they need them, in a place they call home.
Contact: Cory Kallheim, (202) 558-5691.
See AAHSA's fair housing resources.
Order Older Americans Month/Homes for the Aging Week Products Online
If you're planning to celebrate Older Americans Month and Homes for the Aging Week in May, don't forget to order products with the 2007 theme: "Linking Generations." This year's new products include sun visors, magnifying book marks and more. Order today and start planning this important national celebration. Contact: Jenny Mims.
Order the products.
Featured Group Purchasing Partner:
Partner Helps You Educate Consumers Effectively
Why does the average consumer not understand 97 percent of materials providers give them? Because the information is written above the average person's reading level. Briggs, AAHSA's group purchasing partner, offers step by step patient education teaching booklets and tear pads that are specifically designed to help you share the information that consumers need to stay safe and independent. Contact: Jenny Smith, (515) 327-6539.
Learn more about Briggs.
Opportunities Available on AAHSA's Job Mart
Several career opportunities in aging services are now available and listed on Job Mart. Take a look. Pass along the news. If you have a job to post, consider using AAHSA Job Mart. Contact: Phillip Blackmon, (202) 508-9404.
Post a job.
Jobs posted in the past week (April 13-19):
AdministratorAdministrator - Health Care - Westminster (Denver area), Colo.
CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Director - Various Locations
Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Marketing Director - Akron, Ohio
Nursing/Health Care
Director of Nursing - Washington, D.C.
Health Care Services Director - Atlanta, Ga.
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American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Tel (866) 783-2242, Fax (202) 783-2255