Our Projects & Other News
Restoring Visitation Rights in Facilities after COVID
KABC APPLAUDS the new State Long Term Care Ombudsman (SLTCO), Camille Russell, for her excellent article in the Kansas Reflector. Ms. Russell rightfully calls out the ongoing practice of many nursing and assisted living facilities to unnecessarily restrict the visitation rights of residents living under their roofs. It is still happening in too many Kansas nursing and assisted living facilities. We...
KABC’s Barb Conant Appointed to AG’s Council
Congratulations are in order to Barbara Conant, KABC's Public Policy/Legislative Coordinator. Barb was recently appointed by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Advisory Council. This council provides expert advice and input to the AGs office as they perform their duty to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute the abuse of elder and dependent...
Updated Guidance on Nursing Home Visitation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance today for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency. These new federal guidelines greatly expanding access to nursing home visitation, both indoors and outside. If properly implemented this is great news...
Nursing Homes are Broken – A COVID Update
“America now knows that nursing homes are broken. Does anyone care enough to fix them? The devastation wrought by Covid-19 created a rare opportunity for big changes to long-term care," researchers and advocates said. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/america-now-knows-nursing-homes-are-broken-does-anyone-care-n1259766?cid=eml_nbn_20210307
Charlie & Rachel Imthurn’s Story
On January 28, 2021, after 10 long years of fighting, Rachel finally was able to tell Charlie’s story to the Kansas legislature. You can read it here.
Welcome Margaret Farley to KABC!
"It has been an honor and a privilege to advocate alongside older Kansans and those who care about aging adults to improve long-term care in our State for the past 13 years." Mitzi McFatrich, KABC's executive director since 2007 is stepping out of that role the end of December. KABC is welcoming Margaret Farley, JD, BSN and former registered nurse,...
Stand By Me 2020 ~ A Success Because of YOU!
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in Stand By Me 2020! Whether you sponsored the event, donated to Fund A Need, bought a raffle ticket, or shared on the Community Forum, you helped make the event a success. Thank You! If you missed the live finale you can watch it here:
Kansas Nursing Homes cited for failing to prevent infections and failing to control infection spread
COVID 19 and concerns about infection prevention and control in Kansas Nursing Homes. 117 Kansas nursing homes were repeatedly cited for poor infection prevention and control long before the pandemic hit. Click here to review which facilities failed to meet important health safety infection control standards.
CoronaVirus Crisis Campaign
In the wake of the CoronaVirus epidemic, the elderly are among the most at risk. Extreme and unprecedented measures have been taken to stop the spread among older adults. KABC’s advocacy is needed now more than ever to assure that elder and family concerns have a strong public voice. Aging adults in the community are challenged to find adequate resources...
2019 Kansas Nursing Home Trends
Each year, Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC) reviews performance of Kansas nursing facilities based upon on annual health safety inspections conducted by the State. KABC tracks and reports information on quality in long-term care as a public service. The following is a look at Kansas nursing facility performance trends – good and poor – in meeting federally and...