2011 Legislative Priorities

KEY PRIORITIES

  • FORLTC supports drug testing for all direct care staff in adult care homes prior to employment, and on a periodic basis during employment, to address the serious problem of drug diversion by staff, which results in pain and suffering for long term care residents who do not receive their prescribed pain medications.

  • FORLTC supports the recommendations of the 2011 NC Study Commission on Aging  related to updating the Nurse Aide I curriculum to reflect more person-centered care principles and the study of wage and benefits provided to direct care workers.

  • FORLTC supports the Housing 400 Coalition legislative agenda to ensure recurring funding for housing for all persons with mental disabilities, not just those with the highest level of function.

  • FORLTC supports a requirement that all long term care facilities without air conditioning supply ventilation fans for all residents’ rooms.

  • FORLTC supports recommendations from the NCIOM Task Force on the Co-Location of Different Populations in Adult Care Homes to improve the system of services, housing and support options for people with disabilities.

FORLTC also supports:

  • housing of persons with more severe or violent mental illnesses in appropriate settings, not to include facilities with frail elders or the physically disabled.
  • protection and preservation of optional Medicaid services to the aging, blind and disabled, to include physical, occupational and speech therapies,  hospice, and vision and hearing care.
  • preservation and protection of Home and Community Based Services to allow the aging and disabled to age in place at home and eliminate institutional bias.
  • enhanced disaster planning for long term care facilities, to include specific information on evacuation plans and completed contracts for emergency transport services.
  • requiring all long term care facilities to have liability insurance.
  • Dental Task Force recommendations concerning the need for regular dental care for long-term care residents.
  • maintaining and enhancing the Star Ratings System for adult care homes, to include additional consideration in awarding stars for those facilities who achieve best practices in adult care homes.