History and Accomplishments

1985

  • The Vision begins -  Steering Committee formed

1986

  • Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation awards start up grant

1987

  • Office opens in Winston-Salem
  • Penalty Review Committee established
  • Legislation passed to strengthen penalty laws
  • OBRA ‘87 passes, Friends of Residents testifies on Capital Hill
  • Friends of Residents forms and facilitates the Long Term Care Coalition

1988

  • Friends of Resident’s office moved to Raleigh

1989

  • Domiciliary Care Task Force Report

1990

  • First Resident’s Rights Celebration

1992

  • Marlene Chasson, Founding Executive Director of Friends of Residents served on the state’s Rules Review Committee for Adult Care Homes and Family Care Homes.  Working with other advocates, Friends of Residents was successful in initiating a state regulation for restraint use in these homes. 

1993

  • Friends of Residents works for passage of temporary management legislation
  • Duke University Long Term Care Resources Program funds special projects

1994

  • The Executive Director of Friends of Residents began serving on the North Carolina Domiciliary Care Steering Team.  After two years of meetings, some of the team’s recommendations were included in legislation that required staff training and audited cost reports for these homes.

1995

  • Listed in the September, 1995 issue of Consumer Reports as a source of help for "families who may face problems finding a nursing home for an infirm loved one."
  • Friends of Residents in involved in advocacy efforts to save the Ombudsman Program.

1996

  • The Executive Director of Friends of Residents co-chaired the Governor’s Ad Hoc Committee on Nursing Homes and Rest Homes, which was formed following the death of eight rest home residents in a fire.
  • Minority Report of the Ad Hoc Committee is delivered to Governor Hunt by Bette Ivester and Pam Southerland.

1997

  • Co-sponsored a workshop with the Triangle Area Agency on Aging for personal care aides and family members of long term care residents to promote understanding and cooperation between the two groups.
  • Worked with a reporter from The Independent (a weekly newspaper published in the Triangle area) on a three-part series that described problems encountered by residents and family members in adult care homes and the political aspects of these care problems.  The series titled Gray Gold is responsible for bringing attention to long term care issues. 

1998

  • Worked with legislators, regional long term care ombudsmen, and other advocacy groups, resulting in legislation that changed the staffing ratio in adult care homes on the third shift (the first change in 30 years).
  • Assisted a reporter from the Triangle newspaper, The News and Observer, in obtaining information for a series of articles entitled, "A State of Neglect."  Following these articles, legislation was introduced proposing major reforms in adult care homes.  Friends of Residents worked with legislators to assure the passage of this bill.

1999

  • Sponsored a forum featuring State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr., who reviewed his Performance Audit on Long Term Care Programs in North Carolina for legislators and state and county officials.
  • First Bi-annual Long Term Care Advocacy Day at the General Assembly, sponsored by Representative Beverly Earle.  This was the first long term care event of this kind to be held at the NC General Assembly.
  • In cooperation with AARP, Friends of Residents published Making Informed Choices, a brochure to help older adults and family members make decisions about assisted living facilities in North Carolina.
  • Established a website containing information on penalties, special events, and long term care legislation (http://forltc.home.mindspring.com).
  • Friends of Residents works with Ombudsman and others to assure passage of land mark legislation commonly referred to as Senate Bill 10, Long Term Care Safely Initiative.

2000

  • Friends of Residents staff spoke to family councils, community advisory committees, and other groups about long term care issues.
  • Represented consumers’ interest as a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Long Term Care Taskforce.  This taskforce was charged with the responsibility of establishing a state policy for long term care in North Carolina.
  • Friends of Residents was successful in getting legislation passed that (1) directs the State Auditor to study the cost reimbursement system used to reimburse adult care homes and to analyze financial information collected on adult care homes, and (2) requires nursing homes to make disclosures concerning policies and services offered to persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.
  • Sponsored the Conversation with Friends event to honor front line workers in long term care facilities for the important work they do.  Local decision makers and front line workers discussed strategies for improving the job of the caregiver.

2001

  • Co-sponsored the Mission Possible Conference, in Asheville, Winston-Salem, and Rocky Mount, where national speakers proposed a new philosophy of resident-centered care.
  • Co-sponsored the second biannual Long Term Care Advocacy Day at the NC General Assembly, giving over 300 people the chance to come to Raleigh for briefings on long term care issues and the opportunity to speak to their legislators.
  • Co-sponsored an Advocacy Skills Training day to offer education and training to long term care advocates.  This event preceded our Long Term Care Advocacy Day at the NC General Assembly.  Workshops included a variety of topics
  • Co-sponsored the Elderlaw and Advocacy Skills Training workshop, a two day event that provided information on guardianship issues and nursing home law.  This event was sponsored by a grant from the AARP Foundation’s National Training Project. 
  • Helped prevent a law from being passed that would have eliminated the requirement for a national criminal records check for employees in long term care facilities.
  • Facilitated introduction of legislation requiring long term care facilities to post staffing levels.  This legislation passed and is currently in effect. 

2002

  • Convened our second and third “Conversation with Friends” to honor and thank direct care workers in Orange County, held at the Carol Woods Retirement Community.  A similar event was held on November 19 at the Forest of Duke Retirement Community in Durham.
  • In partnership with AARP and the Ombudsman Programs, FORLTC presented consumer forums in Charlotte, Greensboro, Rocky Mount and Wilmington in May.  The purpose of the forums was to come up with a consumer definition of quality and build a consumer base to work on realizing this vision.
  • FORLTC worked to prevent changes in the Medicaid asset transfer policy that would disqualify current nursing home residents.
  • Worked with many groups to prevent the elimination of the Adult Home Specialist fund for the NC budget.

2003

  • FORLTC instituted a Family Council Project, beginning the process that would result in the production of a Family Council Manual for statewide distribution.
  • On March 24 and 25, FORLTC again led the way in planning and carrying out Long Term Care Policy Conference and Advocacy Day events.
  • FORLTC celebrated 15 years of advocacy on April 25.  The dinner event, held at the Sheraton Imperial in Research Triangle Park, featured a “Walk Down Memory Lane” and the presentation of Quest for Quality Awards to a direct care worker, two advocates, two facilities, and a family council.
  • Proposed cuts of funds for Adult Care Home Case Managers and Adult Home Specialists were defeated after FORLTC lobbied vigorously to preserve the positions.

2004

  • Key FORLTC priorities for the 2004 legislative session included national criminal record checks for all long term care workers, accountability by long term care facilities when residents are harmed by medical malpractice, and funding to increase choices available to frail elders and the disabled regarding the long term care they receive.
  • FORLTC began a three-year commitment to participate in the Better Jobs, Better Care Workgroup, which would ultimately produce the New Organizational Vision Award (NOVA) program for North Carolina.
  • In conjunction with the NCSU Cooperative Extension Service, the State Long Term Care Ombudsman, and the NC Pesticide Board, FORLTC sponsored a series of workshops concerning the use of integrated pest management (IPM) in long term care facilities.
  • Utilizing a grant from AARP, FORLTC presented voter education forums across the state.
  • The Fall Fun Fling for Friends brought members and supporters together on November 5 for an evening event featuring a silent auction in support of FORLTC.

2005

  • FORLTC emphasized short and long term legislative goals, including comprehensive advocacy efforts pertaining to consumer choice/no institutional bias, enforcement/monitoring, staffing, and mixed populations in long term care facilities.
  • As a co-sponsor, FORLTC once more provided key leadership for the Long Term Care Policy Conference and Advocacy Day events held on April 18 and 19.
  • The FORLTC Education/Outreach Committee developed and piloted a course entitled Long Term Care 101 as well as continuing to offer IPM workshops around the state.
  • Legislators enacted several key measures supported by FORLTC, including adopting technical changes necessary to fully implement the law passed in 2004 regarding national criminal background checks, directing the development of a star-rating system for adult homes, and approving 200 more slots for the Special Assistance In-Home program.  Members and supporters celebrated at a second Fall Fun Fling for Friends on November 4.
  • Creating a Family Council: A Group Bound for Success was published, and FORLTC began distributing copies both directly and through the ombudsman program.

2006

  • At the May 17 Quest for Quality Awards Banquet, FORLTC honored 11 individuals, facilities, and Community Advisory Committees chosen after a statewide nomination process for excellence in service and advocacy on behalf of residents in long term care.
  • Key funding items FORLTC had supported during the short session were enacted, providing for a significant expansion of the ombudsman program, increased funding for in-home aides, and many other services.
  • FORLTC expanded the use of its quarterly newsletter as an outreach tool by adding hundreds of potential members and courtesy recipients suggested by board members to the mailing list.
  •  Public Policy Committee identified key issues for 2007-2008 pertaining to the Penalty Review Committee process, support for direct care workers including NC NOVA, mixed populations in long term care facilities, increasing the number of ombudsmen, increasing the personal needs allowance, and reducing institutional bias. 

2007

  • The 5th Biennial LTC Policy Conference and Advocacy Day “Be There for Long Term Care” was held in April.
  • A hard fought victory was won when the Star Ratings System for Adult Care Homes was finally approved in the General Assembly.  Friends was proud to have been an instrumental part of the passing of this legislation.
  • The first two NOVA (New Organizational Vision Award) organizations were selected as a result of the Better Jobs Better Care Program.
  • The 2007 Quest for Quality Awards Banquet was held at the NC State University Club.

2008

  • Friends of Residents wins AARP’s outstanding advocacy organization award.
  • Friends of Residents works to prevent dismantling of the newly created star rating system for adult care homes ensuring that consumers have access to vital information on the quality of adult care homes.
  • We responded to the recent closure of a substandard facility to raise public awareness of the conditions into which residents had hastily been discharged.

2009

  • In collaboration with many other aging organizations, FORLTC convenes the 6th biennial Long Term Care Policy Conference and Advocacy Day.
  • Friends of Residents continues working to prevent budget cuts to essential programs related to quality long term care.
  • Friends rolls out new website that will vastly improve access to long term care information and resources for the citizens of North Carolina.