Sunrise of Allentown is holding a professional mixer with fall-themed cocktails and harvest hors d'oeuvres.
Date: October 8, 2008
Time: 4:30-7:00 pm
RSVP to 610-433-9220 by October 6th.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Redefining Excellence: Pennsylvania's Best Healthcare Practices
SAVE THE DATE!
March 26, 2009
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Radisson Penn Harris Conference Center, Harrisburg
Conference program addresses best practices in four learning tracks:
See their save the date card for more information.
March 26, 2009
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Radisson Penn Harris Conference Center, Harrisburg
Conference program addresses best practices in four learning tracks:
- Allied Health
- Direct Care Workforce
- Follow the Money
- Nursing
See their save the date card for more information.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What Workers Want
A list in the first newsletter published by the Maine Personal Assistance Services Association summarized what workers in an inaugural meeting said they wanted their association to do for them:
- Empower us to preserve human dignity
- Help us address issues like continuity of care and short staffing
- Give affirmation
- Help us make changes
- Provide comraderie
- Other people will view us as professionals
- Other people will see us as valuable
- Other people with see the people we serve as valuable, including older people [and] people with disabilities, both children and adults
- Our voices could be solidified (and unified) and people would listen.
(reported by PHI, Direct Care Worker Associations: Empowering Workers to Improve the Quality of Home and Community Based Care, Spring 2004)
How do you feel about this list? Is that what you would say? Are there any others you would add?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Empowering Our Future
Register now (pdf) to guarantee your spot and be eligible for a $10 gas card.What: A Conference for Pennsylvania Direct-Care Workers and Supporters
When: October 3, 2008 from 7:30am to 4pm
Cost: $25 (limited scholarships available)Registration deadline: Monday, Sept. 22
Guest speakers include Congressman Jason Altmire and Gary Rotstein of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Workshops include:
Bringing Your Best Self to the Workplace
Dealing with Dementia: Coping through Validation
Mental Illness: the Benefits of Involving Families in Treatment and Recovery Planning
Grassroots Advocacy: When They Feel the Heat They See the Light
Bringing Your Best Self to the Workplace
Dealing with Dementia: Coping through Validation
Mental Illness: the Benefits of Involving Families in Treatment and Recovery Planning
Grassroots Advocacy: When They Feel the Heat They See the Light
Visit our conference website for more information or register now (pdf) to guarantee your spot and be eligible for a $10 gas card.
For more information, contact Tracy Lawless at (724) 933-6164.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Direct Support Professional Poem
This poem was written by Buck Hensley, a concerned community member. He wrote this poem to express his concern about the future of the Direct Care Workforce in his local area of Tennessee. The poem was printed by the Direct Support Professional Association of Tennessee in their October 2008 newsletter.
The DSP (Direct Support Professional)
Who? Who? Who shall hear my call?
To serve my people I see as great.
But the world sees as small.
Who will lead them from the shadows
into the light of day.
Who will help them pave their own
way.
Who will serve my people
that for so long have been hidden and
misunderstood.
Who will help them experience
freedom
and acceptance in their own
neighborhood.
The calling often times seems difficult
And the pay seems small
But the reward will be great at the end
of it all.
The DSP (Direct Support Professional)
Who? Who? Who shall hear my call?
To serve my people I see as great.
But the world sees as small.
Who will lead them from the shadows
into the light of day.
Who will help them pave their own
way.
Who will serve my people
that for so long have been hidden and
misunderstood.
Who will help them experience
freedom
and acceptance in their own
neighborhood.
The calling often times seems difficult
And the pay seems small
But the reward will be great at the end
of it all.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Pennsylvania Long Term Care “Own Your Future” Campaign
On March 26, 2008, Governor Edward G. Rendell launched the state’s new “Own Your Future” campaign and urged Pennsylvanians to begin planning ahead to better meet their future long-term care needs.
“Planning for the future is not something that can be put off. If people do fail to prepare, it can carry very difficult and expensive consequences,” Governor Rendell said. “The ‘Own Your Future’ campaign empowers consumers to take steps now that will give them peace of mind and improve their future quality of life.”
Pennsylvania has the third largest percentage of people over age 65, trailing only Florida and West Virginia.
By 2020, approximately one in four Pennsylvanians will be age 60 or older. According to surveys cited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, many consumers do not realize that standard health insurance, Medicare, and/or disability coverage do not pay for most long-term care services. Medicaid pays for some long-term care services, but only for consumers who qualify because of limited income and financial resources.
As part of Pennsylvania’s Own Your Future outreach effort, 1.7 million state residents age 45 to 65 received letters from Governor Rendell in March 2008 offering information about planning for the future in areas including finances, legal services, housing, health care and long-term care insurance.
As part of the outreach effort, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has added new resources to its State web site explaining the basics of long-term care insurance, the different types of coverage available, sample rates and policies, and complaint information. This information can be found at www.insurance.state.pa.us in “publications” on the left navigation bar.
For consumers who did not receive a letter in March, they can receive their free copy of the Pennsylvania specific long-term care tool kit by visiting: www.longtermcare.gov/campaign or calling 1-866-752-6585.
“Planning for the future is not something that can be put off. If people do fail to prepare, it can carry very difficult and expensive consequences,” Governor Rendell said. “The ‘Own Your Future’ campaign empowers consumers to take steps now that will give them peace of mind and improve their future quality of life.”
Pennsylvania has the third largest percentage of people over age 65, trailing only Florida and West Virginia.
By 2020, approximately one in four Pennsylvanians will be age 60 or older. According to surveys cited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, many consumers do not realize that standard health insurance, Medicare, and/or disability coverage do not pay for most long-term care services. Medicaid pays for some long-term care services, but only for consumers who qualify because of limited income and financial resources.
As part of Pennsylvania’s Own Your Future outreach effort, 1.7 million state residents age 45 to 65 received letters from Governor Rendell in March 2008 offering information about planning for the future in areas including finances, legal services, housing, health care and long-term care insurance.
As part of the outreach effort, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has added new resources to its State web site explaining the basics of long-term care insurance, the different types of coverage available, sample rates and policies, and complaint information. This information can be found at www.insurance.state.pa.us in “publications” on the left navigation bar.
For consumers who did not receive a letter in March, they can receive their free copy of the Pennsylvania specific long-term care tool kit by visiting: www.longtermcare.gov/campaign or calling 1-866-752-6585.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
FamilyWize Can Help Reduce Your Prescription Costs!
The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has begun distributing free FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards to help the people in our community lower the cost of their medicine. FamilyWize cards are primarily for people with no health insurance or prescription coverage. However, they can also be used when people have to buy medicine not covered by their health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare or VA benefits. FamilyWize cards even include prescription pet medications when they are purchased at a pharmacy.
FamilyWize cards can reduce prescription drug costs by an average of 35 percent. The cards are being distributed free of charge by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and by other United Ways in all 50 states. The goal of this FamilyWize Partnership is to reduce the cost of medicine for children, families and individuals struggling with the cost of medicine by $100 million in five years.
Most pharmacies here and throughout the United States accept the FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards. The participating pharmacies in each community that have voluntarily agreed to accept the FamilyWize card are providing these savings. These cards have no usage or age limits, income requirements or registration forms, and can be used immediately.
“None of this would be possible without everyone working together in this partnership,” said Dan Barnes, co-chair of the FamilyWize Partnership. “We hope that everyone in the community will join in thanking their local pharmacies for accepting the cards and providing these savings, as well as United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and everyone else in the community for their generosity, time and dedication in helping to get the cards to people in need.”
Printing for five million prescription cards was donated by two Pennsylvania companies, Independent Graphics of Pittston, PA and Brown Printing of Bethlehem, PA and shipping is being donated by Fedex Express…..*
You can download cards for at:
http://www.unitedwayglv.org/SiteData/Docs/FamilyWize_Card_English.pdf
The cards will be honored at CVS, RiteAide, Sam's Club, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Wegmans
Pharmacies, along with hundreds of other national chains.
*excerpts from the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley website www.unitedwayglv.org
FamilyWize cards can reduce prescription drug costs by an average of 35 percent. The cards are being distributed free of charge by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and by other United Ways in all 50 states. The goal of this FamilyWize Partnership is to reduce the cost of medicine for children, families and individuals struggling with the cost of medicine by $100 million in five years.
Most pharmacies here and throughout the United States accept the FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards. The participating pharmacies in each community that have voluntarily agreed to accept the FamilyWize card are providing these savings. These cards have no usage or age limits, income requirements or registration forms, and can be used immediately.
“None of this would be possible without everyone working together in this partnership,” said Dan Barnes, co-chair of the FamilyWize Partnership. “We hope that everyone in the community will join in thanking their local pharmacies for accepting the cards and providing these savings, as well as United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and everyone else in the community for their generosity, time and dedication in helping to get the cards to people in need.”
Printing for five million prescription cards was donated by two Pennsylvania companies, Independent Graphics of Pittston, PA and Brown Printing of Bethlehem, PA and shipping is being donated by Fedex Express…..*
You can download cards for at:
http://www.unitedwayglv.org/SiteData/Docs/FamilyWize_Card_English.pdf
The cards will be honored at CVS, RiteAide, Sam's Club, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Wegmans
Pharmacies, along with hundreds of other national chains.
*excerpts from the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley website www.unitedwayglv.org
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Empowering Our Future Conference
PHI is sponsoring a conference to discover how the PHI Health Care for Health Care Workers campaign can help you make a difference in your workplace, your community, and in Pennsylvania to bring quality affordable health care options to you.
Empowering Our Future Conference will be held on October 3rd, 2008 at the Regional Learning Alliance Conference Center in Cranberry Township, PA, outside Pittsburgh.
The cost is $25 per person, and stipends will be made available for lost work time and gas mileage.
Please visit here for more information and registration forms.
Empowering Our Future Conference will be held on October 3rd, 2008 at the Regional Learning Alliance Conference Center in Cranberry Township, PA, outside Pittsburgh.
The cost is $25 per person, and stipends will be made available for lost work time and gas mileage.
Please visit here for more information and registration forms.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
GAO Releases Report on Nursing Home Deficiencies
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released their report on Nursing Homes entitled Federal Monitoring Surveys Demonstrate Continued Understatement of Serious Care Problems and CMS Oversight Weaknesses. The report identifies a serious issue in nursing home monitoring: under-citing of deficiencies. As the report states:
Even with the under-reporting, the numbers for Pennsylvania were alarming. In 2007, 11.9% of nursing homes were cited for actual harm or immediate jeopardy of clients. This reports suggests that the true number of nursing homes with these violations may have been 25% or more!
During fiscal years 2002 through 2007, about 15 percent of federal comparative surveys nationwide identified state surveys that failed to cite at least one deficiency at the most serious levels of noncompliance—actual harm and immediate jeopardy. Overall, nine states missed serious deficiencies on 25 percent or more of comparative surveys; in seven states federal surveyors identified no such missed deficiencies. During the same period, missed deficiencies at the lowest level of noncompliance—the potential for more than minimal harm—were more widespread: nationwide, approximately 70 percent of federal comparative surveys identified state surveys missing at least one deficiency at the lowest level of noncompliance, and in all but five states the number of state surveys with such missed deficiencies was greater than 40 percent.
Even with the under-reporting, the numbers for Pennsylvania were alarming. In 2007, 11.9% of nursing homes were cited for actual harm or immediate jeopardy of clients. This reports suggests that the true number of nursing homes with these violations may have been 25% or more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
