Imagine losing your home, belongings, friends, and routine over the course of 24 hours. For the 174 residents of Northview Village, this became a reality. December 15th, 2023, began in confusion and turned into chaos. That morning, staff realized their paychecks had not been deposited. As the day crept into the afternoon, the paychecks never…
Read MoreCelebrating Women’s History Month 2024
March is a special time dedicated to honoring and celebrating the remarkable contributions of women throughout history. Women’s History Month is an opportunity to recognize the strength, resilience, and achievements of women who have paved the way for progress and equity. As we embark on this month-long journey of reflection and celebration, VOYCE is considering…
Read MoreResidents’ Rights Month 2023: Amplify Residents’ Voices
Residents’ Rights Month is an event celebrated annually in October to honor all residents living in long-term care communities. The theme of the year 2023 – Amplify Our Voices – emphasizes a community of long-term care residents coming together to make their voices heard. Nursing home residents have rights guaranteed by the 1987 Federal Nursing Home Reform…
Read MoreProposed Federal Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care
On September 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), which aims to establish minimum staffing standards to address the safety and quality concerns for the 1.4 million residents receiving care in Medicaid and Medicare certified long-term care (LTC) facilities. As written in the summary…
Read MoreMissouri House Attempts to Override Governor’s Veto
In May 2023, the Missouri legislature approved the FY24 budget, which included a line item of $2.2 million in enhanced funding for the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This funding was intended to hire around 25 new ombudsmen across the state, doubling the program’s capacity and bringing the program in line with national standards. Twelve…
Read MoreStaff Shortages and the Effects on Residents
Causes and factors worsening staffing shortages across the continuum of care Healthcare staffing shortages are a significant and undeniable issue affecting patients and workers, especially in long-term care. Fewer women having children and longer life expectancies have created a circumstance in which more of our population is growing older than is having children. It is…
Read MorePreparing for Death as a Momentous Life Event
Baby showers, birthing classes, stroller research – we do all these things (and more!) as we prepare for a birth. And that’s good. We should be prepared for this momentous life event. But why don’t we prepare with the same care for death, another momentous life event? Some people do not like to think about…
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