Long Term Care Community Coalition

09/16/2026

What happens when strong nursing home protections are not consistently enforced?

LTCCC’s new national study, The Accountability Gap, examines nursing home oversight and enforcement from 2022–2024 — and reveals a troubling divide between the protections residents are promised and what enforcement delivers in practice.

In 2024:

🔹 Only 64.8% of nursing homes received a standard survey.
🔹 About 90% were staffed below expected levels.
🔹 Approximately 94% of cited health deficiencies were classified below actual harm.
🔹 The number of fines was 55% lower than in 2022.

LTCCC also held a webinar yesterday to discuss the findings and what they mean for residents, families, advocates, and policymakers.

Visit the study page to read the report, watch the webinar, explore your state’s performance, download the data, and find additional resources:

https://nursinghome411.org/ltccc-enforcement-study-2026/

Please read and share. Effective standards require effective enforcement.

The Accountability Gap: A National Examination of Nursing Home Oversight And Enforcement, 2022–2024 This study assessed nursing home oversight and enforcement of minimum standards in the three year period following the COVID-19 public health emergency (2022-2024). Findings are based on federal dat...

09/09/2026

Community organizations, faith-based groups, adult day centers, and local employers play a vital role in supporting caregivers.

Through LTCCC’s Train-the-Trainer Series, leaders can access turnkey materials to host their own educational sessions on dementia care.

Each training package includes:

🔹 Downloadable presentation slides
🔹 Facilitator talking points
🔹 Recorded video modules walking through real-world care scenarios

Equip your staff or volunteer network with practical dementia care skills. Access the free training materials:

Everyone living with dementia – no matter where they live – deserves to receive care and services that meet professional standards of care. Unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness of professional standards and absence of government standards (outside of the nursing home world), too many peop...

09/08/2026

As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) begins nationwide implementation of its new Risk-Based Survey (RBS) process today, LTCCC is releasing a new guide to help Long-Term Care Ombudsmen understand the process, respond to questions about facilities considered “higher performing” or “low risk,” and provide surveyors with information about resident-care concerns.

Download the guide at NursingHome411:

LTCCC Alert: New Guide Helps Ombudsmen Respond to CMS’s Risk-Based Surveys Download the Guide. September 8, 2026 – As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) begins nationwide implementation of its new Risk-Based Survey (RBS) process today, LTCCC is releasing a new guide to help Long-...

09/04/2026

Living in a nursing home does not take away a person’s right to vote.

Yet registration deadlines, inaccessible transportation, difficulty obtaining or returning a mail-in ballot, and a lack of appropriate assistance can prevent residents from participating.

LTCCC’s new guide explains residents’ voting rights and offers practical information for residents, families, long-term care ombudsmen, advocates, and facility staff—including how to plan ahead, provide neutral assistance, protect ballot privacy, and respond to interference.

A diagnosis of dementia or another cognitive impairment does not automatically make someone ineligible to vote.

Read the alert and download the guide: https://nursinghome411.org/alert-voting-guide/

LTCCC Alert: New Guide on Protecting Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote Download the Guide. September 4, 2026 – Living in a nursing home does not take away a person’s right to vote. Yet residents may face practical barriers – such a registration deadlines, difficulty obtaining or returnin...

09/02/2026

Communication changes as dementia progresses, but meaningful connection remains entirely possible with the right approach.

When speaking with a person living with dementia, simple adjustments to your tone, pacing, and phrasing can reduce anxiety and build trust:

🔸 Meet them in their reality: Avoid correcting, arguing, or quizzing (""Don't you remember?""). Validate their feelings instead.

🔸 Keep choices simple: Offer two clear options (e.g., ""Would you like tea or water?"") rather than open-ended questions.

🔸 Use calm non-verbal cues: Approach from the front at eye level, maintain a relaxed posture, and allow extra time for processing.

Download our Fact Sheet on Communication Tips or the Care Card for quick daily reference: nursinghome411.org/learn/dementia-care-in-the-community/

What communication technique has made the biggest difference in your daily care routine? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Everyone living with dementia – no matter where they live – deserves to receive care and services that meet professional standards of care. Unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness of professional standards and absence of government standards (outside of the nursing home world), too many peop...

09/01/2026

🚨 New York is proposing a 25% reduction in the minimum training required for certified nurse aides — from 100 hours to the federal minimum of just 75 hours.

CNAs provide most of the hands-on care that nursing home residents receive. At a time when residents have increasingly complex medical, behavioral, and dementia care needs, New York should be strengthening caregiver training—not weakening it.

Take action today: Tell Governor Hochul and your state legislators to oppose this proposal and protect nursing home residents and caregivers. Adding a few words about why this issue matters to you can make your message even more powerful.

👉

08/19/2026

Most care for individuals living with dementia takes place outside of nursing homes — in private residences, family homes, and assisted living communities. Yet, regulatory protections and standardized guidance in these settings are often sparse, leaving families and direct care staff without clear support.

LTCCC’s Dementia Care in the Community initiative provides a comprehensive suite of free, public-access resources created specifically for caregivers, community advocates, and service providers.

The online hub includes:
🔹Fact Sheets: provide deeper but user-friendly information on dementia topics

🔹Care Cards: quick, practical tips for real-time situations

🔹Mini-Modules: short videos for learning and group discussion

🔹Train-the-Trainer Modules: structured curriculum and recorded sessions for various audiences

Access the complete resource center here: nursinghome411.org/learn/dementia-care-in-the-community/

Please share this post with families, community groups, or colleagues who support individuals living with dementia.

08/18/2026

Help advocate for resident rights, dignity, and quality care!

LTCCC’s Ombudsman Program is seeking a dedicated, full-time Resident Advocate to support individuals in long-term care facilities across Orange and Sullivan Counties.

Be a voice for residents and help safeguard their rights. 📣

Apply today on Indeed:

Apply for the Orange & Sullivan Counties, NY, Full Time Long Term Care Resident Advocate job in Fishkill, NY! Learn more about the job description, salary, and job details to see if you qualify on Indeed today.