Advocacy in Action (September 2024): KABC Testifies at the Bob Bethell KanCare Oversight Committee

Libby Hastings • October 1, 2024

On Monday, August 26th, Libby Hastings, Communication and Public Relations Coordinator, had the honor of presenting testimony on behalf of KABC to the Robert G. Bethell Joint Committee on Home & Community Based Services & KanCare Oversight Committee. Our goal was clear: to advocate for the reinstatement of the "Explore Your Options" (EYO) resource guide, a vital tool for older Kansans and their caregivers.

In recent months, our work with the Douglas County Senior Resource Directory has underscored the critical need for a comprehensive resource guide. Since launching the directory, we've seen firsthand how essential it is for older adults to have access to reliable, up-to-date information about the services and resources available to them. The response to our directory has been overwhelmingly positive, with individuals and families expressing their appreciation for a resource that helps them navigate the complexities of long-term care. 


The importance of the EYO guide was highlighted in the Final Report of the Kansas Senior Care Task Force to the 2023 Kansas Legislature. A key recommendation from the Task Force was for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to reinstitute the EYO guide, which would provide a centralized, accessible source of information for older adults across the state. The guide would be published online and in print, ensuring that those without internet access can still benefit from this essential resource.


The need for such a guide is urgent. As one of the working groups from the Kansas Senior Care Task Force noted, it is critical for older adults and caregivers to know where to access service information and resources when the need for long-term supports and services arises. The lack of access to reliable, accurate information can lead to frustration, confusion, and potentially harmful outcomes for seniors and their families. 


While some areas of the state, like Johnson County and Central Plains, have found ways to create their own versions of the EYO guide, most counties do not have the resources or capacity to do so without state assistance. That’s why we’re asking this committee to encourage and support KDADS in bringing back the EYO guide. By doing so, we can ensure that all older Kansans, regardless of where they live, have the information they need to make informed decisions about their care. 


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Inside Kansas Nursing Homes: Through the Eyes of the Experts

July 31, 2025
Inside Kansas Nursing Homes: A Special Series Returns in Honor of KABC’s 50th Anniversary In celebration of Kansas Advocates for Better Care’s 50th anniversary, we are proud to reintroduce a powerful special series from our early days as Kansans for Improvement of Nursing Homes. Originally launched in the mid-1980s, Inside Kansas Nursing Homes: Through the Eyes of the Experts offered an unflinching look at nursing home care across Kansas, as observed by those who know it best: the relatives, friends, residents, and caregivers of residents. Now, nearly four decades later, we are bringing this vital series back, with the same grassroots spirit and commitment to truth. This first issue of Volume One marks the beginning of our updated report on the current state of nursing home care in Kansas, informed by the honest voices of frequent visitors who witness daily life inside these facilities. Since April 2025, we have been gathering recorded and transcribed conversations with individuals who care deeply about their loved ones in long-term care. These candid reflections are edited to preserve confidentiality—identifying details are removed, names are changed, and nursing homes are referred to by assigned numbers and regions. Mentions of facilities in passing are designated with alphabetical letters (e.g., Nursing Home A). Over the next year, we aim to gather insights on at least 40 to 50 percent of Kansas’s 305 nursing homes. Volume One of this series, covering roughly 40 homes, will be released in serial form over the coming weeks. Through these voices, we invite readers to reflect, question, and advocate, just as we did in the 1980s. Because meaningful change begins when we listen.