[4alabama] Tennessee Governor Expanding Community Care Choices

[Judy R. Roy]

Tennessee Citizen Action Applauds Governor's Long-Term Care Initiative
Tennessee Citizen Action Applauds Governor's Long-Term Care
InitiativeNASHVILLE, Tenn.TN-TNCA


NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Tennessee Citizen Action, a statewide grassroots advocacy group, is
applauding Governor Phil Bredesen's initiative to rebalance long-term care
spending in Tennessee to create more long-term care options and lessen the
state's dependency on institutionalized nursing home care.

The organization said the Governor's actions are particularly welcome in
light of recent reports that conditions at Tennessee nursing homes have
continued to worsen. In 2007, the state experienced a record number of
admissions suspensions ' double the number in 2006 and triple the number in
2005. State inspectors found 152 incidences in nursing homes in 2007 that
put residents in 'immediate jeopardy.' Two nursing homes have already had
their admissions suspended in 2008.

'Governor Bredesen is showing tremendous courage and leadership with this
landmark commitment to ensuring that our elderly and disabled citizens
receive the best care available,' said Karla C. Hewitt, president of
Tennessee Citizen Action. 'The current system leaves families with very
little choice other than nursing homes, which have a record of abuse and
neglect in Tennessee. A more balanced system will give people options and
allow them to live in the comfort and security of their homes or in
community-based settings.'

Last week, Governor Phil Bredesen in his State of the State address made a
commitment to rebalance the long-term care funding formula with the
announcement of the 'Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008.' This
proposed legislation will redirect funding to provide more home- and
community-based options for those Tennesseans in need.

Currently Tennessee spends more than $1 billion annually on long-term care,
99 percent of which goes to nursing homes, leaving a mere one percent for
home- and community-based care. This funding disparity ranks Tennessee last
in the nation for the percentage allocated to home- and community-based
care.

Tennessee Citizen Action strongly encourages the state's elected leaders to
support Governor Bredesen's initiative and develop appropriate solutions for
the challenges that exist within the long-term care system.

About Tennessee Citizen Action (TNCA)

TNCA is Tennessee's consumer watchdog organization working on behalf of a
number of consumer protection issues, including patients' rights; nursing
home reform; quality health care; increased home- and community-based
options with more consumer control; title lending; aftermath of sub-prime
lending crisis; workplace health and safety; and voter education,
registration, GOTV, problems with electronic voting and lack of a paper
trail. TNCA is a grassroots citizen group based in Nashville seeking to
build a unified movement for reform in Tennessee. TNCA works to create
long-term political change by building diverse coalitions around our major
issues. The organization actively works in coalition with a range of health
care, environmental, government reform, and labor organizations. For more
information, visit: http://www.tnca.org.

Judy R. Roy
Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham
206  13th Street S.
Birmingham, AL  35233-1317
Phone  205.251.2223  ext 102
Email  bhamilc1 at bellsouth.net
There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been
caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be
caregivers; those who will need caregivers. - Rosalynn Carter

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Tennessee Citizen Action Applauds Governor's Long-Term Care Initiative
Tennessee Citizen Action Applauds Governor's Long-Term Care InitiativeNASHVILLE, Tenn.TN-TNCA
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Tennessee Citizen Action, a statewide grassroots advocacy group, is applauding Governor Phil Bredesen
'
s initiative to rebalance long-term care spending in Tennessee to create more long-term care options and lessen the state
'
s dependency on institutionalized nursing home care.
The organization said the Governor
'
s actions are particularly welcome in light of recent reports that conditions at Tennessee nursing homes have continued to worsen. In 2007, the state experienced a record number of admissions suspensions
'
double the number in 2006 and triple the number in 2005. State inspectors found 152 incidences in nursing homes in 2007 that put residents in
'
immediate jeopardy.
'
Two nursing homes have already had their admissions suspended in 2008.
'
Governor Bredesen is showing tremendous courage and leadership with this landmark commitment to ensuring that our elderly and disabled citizens receive the best care available,
'
said Karla C. Hewitt, president of Tennessee Citizen Action.
'
The current system leaves families with very little choice other than nursing homes, which have a record of abuse and neglect in Tennessee. A more balanced system will give people options and allow them to live in the comfort and security of their homes or in community-based settings.
'
Last week, Governor Phil Bredesen in his State of the State address made a commitment to rebalance the long-term care funding formula with the announcement of the
'
Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008.
'
This proposed legislation will redirect funding to provide more home- and community-based options for those Tennesseans in need.
Currently Tennessee spends more than $1 billion annually on long-term care, 99 percent of which goes to nursing homes, leaving a mere one percent for home- and community-based care. This funding disparity ranks Tennessee last in the nation for the percentage allocated to home- and community-based care.
Tennessee Citizen Action strongly encourages the state
'
s elected leaders to support Governor Bredesen
'
s initiative and develop appropriate solutions for the challenges that exist within the long-term care system.
About Tennessee Citizen Action (TNCA)
TNCA is Tennessee
'
s consumer watchdog organization working on behalf of a number of consumer protection issues, including patients
'
rights; nursing home reform; quality health care; increased home- and community-based options with more consumer control; title lending; aftermath of sub-prime lending crisis; workplace health and safety; and voter education, registration, GOTV, problems with electronic voting and lack of a paper trail. TNCA is a grassroots citizen group based in Nashville seeking to build a unified movement for reform in Tennessee. TNCA works to create long-term political change by building diverse coalitions around our major issues. The organization actively works in coalition with a range of health care, environmental, government reform, and labor organizations. For more information, visit: http://www.tnca.org/ http://www.tnca.org
.
Judy R. Roy
Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham
206  13th Street S.
Birmingham, AL  35233-1317
Phone  205.251.2223  ext 102
Email  bhamilc1 at bellsouth.net
There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be caregivers; those who will need caregivers. - Rosalynn Carter