Allegany County Ombudsman

www.cms.gov

New Visitation Guidelines!!!

BREAKING: CMS increases oversight of nursing home survey process and expands nursing home visitation policy in 2 new guidances Nursing homes should allow visitation for residents “at all times,” while state surveyors received steps on how to address a backlog of complaint and recertification surveys under two separate memos issued Friday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh-revised.pdf

On November 12th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their Nursing Home Visitation Guidance. After a year and a half of residents and their loved ones being separated from each other and subject to confusing and often ignored visitation guidance, visitation is now allowed at all times for all residents, this includes indoor visitation. All visitors must continue to adhere to infection prevention practices.

Additional Key Points, include:
• Facilities can no longer limit frequency and length of visits, number of visitors, or require advanced scheduling of visits.
• Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents can have close contact, including touch. Visitors should be advised of the risks of physical contact with unvaccinated residents before the visit.
• Communal activities and dining may occur while adhering to core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention. The safest approach is for everyone, regardless of vaccination status to wear a mask while in communal areas.

www.cms.gov

Learn more in our fact sheet: https://theconsumervoice.org/uploads/files/long-term-care-recipient/5._6_Steps_to_Getting_Quality_Care_in_a_Nursing_Home.pdf

We have a huge opportunity to get meaningful nursing home reforms passed into law! Currently, Congress is involved in the budget reconciliation process. The good news is that the House has proposed a bill that includes critical provisions that would increase protections for nursing home residents.

However, the Senate has not yet proposed a bill, and it is not clear that the nursing home provisions will be included. It is also not guaranteed that these provisions will remain in the House bill. Congress is currently in negotiations, and many provisions are on the chopping block. We are gravely concerned that these important nursing home provisions will not make it into the final reconciliation bill.

After the loss of over 186,000 residents of long-term care facilities to COVID-19 and the prolonged suffering of other residents, it would be a travesty to not have increased protections included into the reconciliation bill.

That’s why we urgently need your help!

Please complete this form to reach out to your Congressmembers and tell them to support these provisions: https://secure2.convio.net/tncv/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=177

produced by Weld County Area Agency on Aging. If you have questions or concerns contact your local Ombudsman, Kati Boswell.

301.268.5712

Residents' Rights Month Video October is Residents' Right Month and Weld County's Area Agency on Aging wants to make sure residents in long-term care facility know, understand and exercis...

The NCEA is pleased to present the Tips to Avoid campaign running throughout the month of October. Together we can all prevent by knowing the signs of and spreading awareness in our communities. Be on the lookout for a new weekly tip to share and shed a light on scams this month!

Learn more about resources to prevent scams here: https://ncea.acl.gov/Resources/Publications.aspx

BREAKING: CDC panel recommends COVID-19 boosters for long-term care residents Long-term care residents are one step closer to receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster shots after an advisory panel affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved a key recommendation Thursday.

CMS Launches New Medicare.gov Tool to Compare Nursing Home Vaccination Rates | CMS The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making it easier to check COVID-19 vaccination rates for nursing home staff and residents with a new feature on Medicare.gov. Today’s announcement makes vaccination data available in a user-friendly format to help people make informed decisions...

Your Ombudsman will be at the HRDC booth on Sunday 10:30-12. come say hello!

Biden-Harris Administration to Expand Vaccination Requirements for Health Care Settings | CMS New action will protect patients of the 50,000 providers and over 17 million health care workers in Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities

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waysandmeans.house.gov

Reduce caregiving stress by talking with your loved ones early about their healthcare preferences and arrangements. Check out this infographic which includes a checklist for getting advance care plans in order: https://bit.ly/2Zu88PU https://www.nia.nih.gov/.../getting-your-affairs-order...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 26, 2021

MDH RANKS ALLEGANY COUNTY IN BOTTOM FIVE FOR COVID VACCINATION RATES AMONG NURSING FACILITY STAFF
County ranks 15 out of 24 jurisdictions for vaccination rates among nursing home residents


CUMBERLAND, MD – The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has ranked Allegany County in the bottom five jurisdictions for COVID vaccination rates among nursing facility staff. According to the Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccination Dashboard, only 59.4% of staff at Allegany County skilled nursing facilities are fully vaccinated against COVID.

The county ranked a bit better in vaccination rates for residents of those nursing facilities, with 85.7% fully vaccinated against COVID. That puts the county at 15th out of 24 jurisdictions for nursing home resident vaccinations. The vaccination rates for staff and patients reflect an average of rates at all skilled nursing facilities in the county. More information on individual facility vaccination rates can be found at https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/SNFVD.aspx.

The Allegany County Health Department reports that 40.6% of all Allegany County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to 58.5% of all Marylanders.

ACHD noted that there was a marked increase in the number of 12 to 17 year olds who attended last Wednesday’s Pfizer vaccination clinic at the Willowbrook Office Complex.

“That was great to see, since that age group is among the lowest for COVID vaccination rates in Allegany County,” stated Dr. Jennifer Corder, Medical Deputy Health Officer for Allegany and Garrett Counties. “We hope that trend continues, especially with students heading back to the classroom soon.”

The health department will offer another walk-in COVID vaccination clinic this Wednesday, July 28 on the ground floor of the Willowbrook Office Complex (12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD) From 9 a.m. to noon both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines will be offered for those age 18 and older. Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. the Pfizer COVID vaccine will be available for those age 12 and older. Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to be vaccinated.

Allegany County COVID-19 Case Statistics as of July 25:

• New COVID Cases: 6 (cumulative total 7,088)
• Additional Deaths: 0 (cumulative total 212)
• Cases Per 100,000 Population: 2.03 (Maryland: 4.14)
• Positivity Rate: 1.02 % (Maryland: 2.15%)

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Good news for people with lingering effects of COVID.
https://askjan.org/blogs/jan/2021/03/covid-19-long-haulers-and-the-americans-with-disabilities-act.cfm?fbclid=IwAR05o3LGv1WkdKx_3i1sr2PWdOc1bfHIKdeOK5pXRaJ8fgEsPRe5BVyVWm0

COVID-19 Long Haulers and the Americans with Disabilities Act Some individuals who had COVID-19 are experiencing ongoing effects or lingering symptoms for months afterward. The scientific name for this medical condition is Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome or Long COVID. If you’re one of the individuals who has this condition, sometimes referred to as “long hau...

From our friends in Calvert County

WEAAD 2021 This is "WEAAD 2021" by Calvert Broadcast on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), observed each year on June 15th, serves as a call-to-action for our communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders, and reaffirm our commitment to the principle of justice for all.
Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported, in part because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. Research suggests that as few as 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities.
We can prevent elder abuse from happening. We can strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a nation where no individual is subject to abuse.

If you suspect someone you love has been a victim of Elder Abuse, we are here to help!

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 raises awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. This is more important than ever as…

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care Every year, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) dedicates the month of May to special recognition of older Americans. Older adults have played a role in the lives of so many, whether through their own personal connections or through their communities. This year's Older Americans Month (OAM...