This webcast took place on Tuesday, June 30, 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents difficulties and great risk for older Americans and people with disabilities who rely on hands-on assistance from others. Since early March, nursing home residents and others in congregate care settings have faced infection, injury, death, and relentless isolation. Home and community-based services (HCBS) programs have struggled to maintain services at necessary levels.
This Justice in Aging webcast, Advocating Today and for the Future: Nursing Homes and Home and Community-Based Services in a COVID-19 World, will look at both the present and the future. The session will bring attendees up to date on COVID-related policy changes for nursing homes and HCBS, including federal guidance for “reopening” nursing homes.
Also, the session will consider policy changes that the current crisis makes imperative. Shared-occupancy congregate care is a recipe for disaster in a COVID-19 world. The session will consider the immediate need for real change: both in remaking the nursing home model, and, more importantly, in making Medicaid HCBS available to all financially-eligible persons who need it.
Who should participate:
Aging and disability community advocates who want to learn more about advocating around nursing facility issues during COVID-19, and policy ideas for improving facilities and the long-term care system into the future.
Presenters:
Eric Carlson, Justice in Aging
Gelila Selassie, Justice in Aging
