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How to Support Nursing Home Reform

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Working together, we can improve nursing home care and stop the abuse and neglect that too many of our elderly and disabled suffer in California's nursing homes. But change doesn't happen if we remain silent. This Fact Sheet is designed to give you some ideas on how you personally can contribute to nursing home reform.

Write letters to your legislators in support of nursing home reform legislation. You might also let them know what kinds of problems you 've experienced in nursing homes, and enlist their help in resolving them. If legislators don't know that their constituents are having problems, they aren't going to sponsor or fight for legislation. Call CANHR for a list of current legislation. Join CAHNR's legislative alert network.

SPEAK OUT! CANHR needs people to speak with the media about their experiences with nursing homes and to go up to Sacramento to testify for or against bills. So few people are willing to do this but it's extremely important if we are going to succeed in improving nursing home care.

Organize a Family Council in your nursing home. Under federal and state laws, family members have the right to meet as a group in a nursing home without interference from the staff. In addition, nursing home staff must respond to the concerns raised by the Family Council. Call CANHR for our guide on how to organize Family Councils.

Start a family support group for relatives and friends of nursing home residents in your area. Support groups provide a forum to air grievances, get information, give and get emotional support, share strategies on resolving problems and create a force for change in your community. Invite speakers to address the group about issues of concern.

File complaints with your local Licensing and Certification Division (LCD) of the Department of Health Services. If you don't speak up, it's unlikely that a bad situation will improve. You should also know that facilities can be cited and fined for retaliating against anyone who makes a complaint. LCD must investigate complaints within 10 days of receiving them. If you make a complaint over the phone, follow it up in writing and include information on the date, time, situation and the people involved. You can also contact your local ombudsman for assistance with complaints.

Join CANHR 's "Media Watch" campaign. Send clippings regarding nursing home issues to the CANHR office. If you have a story that should be exposed, send info to your local media, or to CANHR.

Contribute financially. If you're not able to do any of the above, donate to CANHR and we'll do it for you. CANHR and its members are the voice in California demanding quality care with dignity for nursing home residents.