Elder Voice Family Advocates

ELDER VOICE FAMILY ADVOCATES (EVFA) IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN MINNESOTA WHOSE SOLE MISSION IS TO STOP ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION OF ELDER AND VULNERABLE ADULTS BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, POLICYMAKERS, AND OTHERS ABOUT MALTREATMENT HAPPENING IN LONG-TERM CARE (LTC) FACILITIES AND THE NEED TO HAVE EFFECTIVE LAWS, POLICY, AND ENFORCEMENT. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INTERFACE: ELDER VOICE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MDH. WE WERE APPOINTED TO THE WORK GROUP CHARGED WITH GIVING INPUT IN DRAFTING THE RULES FOR THE LICENSING OF ASSISTED LIVING. DURING THESE FREQUENT MEETINGS, WE REVIEWED ALL THE STATUTORY LANGUAGE AND THE MDH DRAFTS TO MAKE SUGGESTED CHANGES. MANY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ADOPTED, FURTHER STRENGTHENING INFECTION CONTROL AND OTHER PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS. WE WERE ALSO APPOINTED TO THE RESIDENT QUALITY TASK FORCE. COALITION PARTNERSHIPS: THERE HAS BEEN GOOD PROGRESS BUILDING A PARTNERING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MN OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN FOR LONG-TERM CARE. WE ARE NOW COLLABORATING ON SEVERAL POSSIBLE PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE NURSES ASSOCIATION ON THEIR 'ESSENTIAL WORKERS LEAVE' LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE. LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH: SEVERAL POSITION PAPERS WERE SENT TO THE LEGISLATORS SUPPORTING TWO KEY BILLS. WE SUPPORTED THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS LEAVE ACT, WHICH FAILED IN THE 2021 REGULAR SESSION BUT WILL COME UP AGAIN IN A SPECIAL SESSION OR THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE, WITH OTHERS, SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED THE 'BLANKET LEGAL IMMUNITY' BILL, WHICH WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE WRONG-DOING OF THE PROVIDERS. THIS WILL LIKELY BE INTRODUCED AGAIN IN 2022. RESEARCH PROJECTS: WE CONSTANTLY MONITORED ALL THE COVID-19 INCIDENT REPORTS AND INVESTIGATION REPORTS OF MALTREATMENT. THIS GIVES US A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM AREAS NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. WE HAVE ALSO MADE DATA REQUESTS OF MDH FOR DRUG THEFT DATA FROM 2019 - 2021 TO ASSESS THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM AND OFFER SOLUTIONS. FAMILY ASSISTANCE: WE HELPED FAMILIES SEEKING MORE INFORMATION ON THE QUALITY OF CARE IN FACILITIES BEING CONSIDERED. THIS OFTEN TAKES SEVERAL HOURS TO DO THE RESEARCH AND ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. OTHERS CALL, DESPERATE FOR HELP IN MANAGING A SERIOUS CARE ISSUE. WE GET ABOUT 1 - 2 CALLS PER MONTH AND THESE OFTEN TAKE HOURS OF CONSULTATION. ADDITIONALLY, WE GIVE MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR LOVED AT THE WEBSITE PAGE OF VOICES OF OUR ELDERS. COVID-19 RESOURCES: THE WEBSITE INCLUDED MDH AND CDC INFORMATION AND UPDATES COVID INFO. SOCIAL MEDIA DID EXTENSIVE SHARING OF NEW GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION. MEDIA: WE WERE CALLED UPON BY NEWSPAPERS AND TV TO COMMENT ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE NEW RULES FOR LICENSING OF ASSISTED LIVING AND OTHER ASPECTS OF ELDER CARE. RECENT COVERAGE INCLUDES STORIES WHEN THE ASSISTED LIVING LICENSING WENT INTO EFFECT AUGUST 1, 2021. BOTH THE STAR TRIBUNE AND KARE 11 DID FEATURE STORIES, HIGHLIGHTING THE LAW AND OUR ADVOCACY WORK. OTHER RECENT INTERVIEWS INCLUDE MPR AND STAR TRIBUNE REGARDING VACCINES; STAFF VACCINATIONS BY STAR TRIBUNE, AND FOX 9 DID A RECENT MEMBER STORY. RECENT NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE QUOTED ELDER VOICE EXPERTS INCLUDING THE HEADLINE STORY IN THE NY TIMES, 'A HIDDEN SHAME IN NURSING HOMES' (SEPTEMBER 14, 2021). NADAQ DID A STORY ON FINDING THE RIGHT NURSING HOME (AUGUST 18, 2021) WEBSITE: WE ENGAGED THE EXPERTISE OF A CONTRACTED WEBSITE DEVELOPER IN DECEMBER 2020. IT WAS REVAMPED AND MADE MORE USER FRIENDLY. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON THE GET HELP PAGE INCLUDING HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT, WORKING WITH YOUR PROVIDER, KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS, WHERE HELP IS AVAILABLE, CHOOSING A CARE FACILITY AND COVID-19 UPDATES. A NEW SECTION HAS JUST BEEN STARTED CALLED 'STATE INVESTIGATION SPOTLIGHT,' WHICH FEATURES INVESTIGATIONS OF MALTREATMENT SUCH AS THIS SPOTLIGHT CASE. SOCIAL MEDIA: WE HAVE ESCALATED OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM AND ARE EXPANDING TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES SUCH AS BIPOC AND LBGTQ GROUPS. OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS HAVE INCREASED 25% SINCE JANUARY 1, 2021. OUR AVERAGE DAILY TWEET IMPRESSIONS HAVE INCREASED NEARLY 4-FOLD. WE GET AN AVERAGE OF 196 IMPRESSIONS PER DAY. THE E-NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBER BASE HAS INCREASED BY 33% FROM 400 IN NOVEMBER 2020 TO 605 IN NOVEMBER 2021. WE HAVE A TOTAL OPEN RATE ACROSS ALL EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS OF 50.8 % AS COMPARED TO THE 25.2 % FOR NON-PROFIT E- NEWSLETTER OPEN RATE. YOU TUBE POSTINGS OF WEBINARS AND OTHER RECORDINGS HAVE REACHED NEARLY 500 VIEWS WITH VIDEOS SUCH AS YOU TUBE - WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.