The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care (formerly the National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform) was formed in 1975 because of public concern about the substandard care in nursing homes. The consumer voice is the outgrowth of work first achieved by advocates working for Ralph Nader and later for the National Gray Panthers.The ongoing work of The Consumer Voice seeks to improve care and life for residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities. Ongoing work addresses issues such as:
- Inadequate staffing in nursing homes, particularly all levels of nursing staff
- Poor working conditions, salaries and benefits for long-term care workers.
- Maintenace of residents’ rights and empowerment of residents.
- Support for family members and development of family councils.
- Resources for and support to citizens’ advocacy groups (CAG’s).
- Development and support for the long-term care ombudsman program.
- Minimizing the use of physical and chemical restraints.
- The high cost of poor care, such as pressure sores, dehydration, incontinence, and contracture of residents’ muscles.
- Accountability to taxpayers for nursing home expenditures and failure to fulfill goverment contracts.
The Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care is comprised of: local citizen action groups, state and local long-term care ombudsmen, legal services programs, religious organizations, professional groups, nursing home employees’ unions, concerned providers, national organizations, and growing numbers of family and resident councils.
