NCCNHR

The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) was formed because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes. NCCNHR is the outgrowth of work first achieved by advocates working for Ralph Nader and later for the National Gray Panthers. Elma Holder, NCCNHR Founder, was working with The Long Term Care Action Project of the Gray Panthers when she organized a group meeting of advocates from across the country to attend a nursing home industry conference in Washington, D.C. in 1975. At that meeting, representatives of 12 citizen action groups spoke collectively to the industry about the need for serious reform in nursing home conditions. The consumer attendees were inspired to develop a platform of common concerns and motivated to form a new organization to represent the consumer voice at the national level. Most of the original members had witnessed and endured personal experiences with substandard nursing home conditions.

NCCNHR's current 20-member board, which includes residents of nursing homes, represents the grassroots membership of concerned advocates of quality long term care nationwide. The board is elected by consumer-controlled member groups and meets four times a year to establish policies and to help direct financing and programming issues.

The solid base for NCCNHR is its two hundred member groups with a growing individual membership of over 1,000. Members and subscribers to NCCNHR's information resources from 42 states comprise a diverse and caring coalition of: local citizen action groups, state and local long-term care ombudsmen, legal services programs, religious organizations, professional groups, nursing home employees' unions, concerned providers, national organizations, and growing numbers of family and resident councils.

NCCNHR provides information and leadership on federal and state regulatory and legislative policy development and models and strategies to improve care and life for residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities. Ongoing work addresses issues such as:
 * Inadequate staffing in nursing homes, particularly all levels of nursing staff
 * Poor working conditions, salaries and benefits for long-term care workers
 * Maintenance of residents' rights and empowerment of residents
 * Support for family members and development of family councils
 * Development and support for the long-term care ombudsman program
 * Minimizing the use of physical and chemical restraints
 * The high cost of poor care, such as pressure sores, dehydration, incontinence, and contracture of residents' muscles
 * Accountability to taxpayers for nursing home expenditures and failure to fulfill government contracts

1975
The Coalition is formed when various citizen groups and ombudsman programs, convened by the National Gray Panthers' LTC Action Project, gather in Washington, D.C., in June. Prior to attending a conference sponsored by the American Health Care Association, the groups meet to become acquainted and to develop recommendations to present at the conference in a united consumer voice.

The Coalition holds its first press conference, attended by Dr. Arthur Flemming, Commissioner on Aging.

1978
The Coalition issues its first paper, The Plight of the Nurse Aide in America's Nursing Homes. A preliminary report on nursing home costs issues also is released. Both are circulated widely to health care professionals, state and national organizations, state government agencies, and nursing homes.

During the Coalition's second annual meeting, reaction and comments are issued on proposed changes federal nursing home rules. Also that day, Rep. Claude Pepper, chair of the House Select Committee on Aging, addresses the Coalition.

The Coalition receives a three-year grant from Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) to recruit, train, and place 40 volunteers in 13 project sites, strengthening local and state member groups toward a stronger national network.

1990
Advocating full implementation of the Reform Act, the Coalition mails time analyses and consumer viewpoints on the latest drafts of standards to state ombudsmen and licensure directors.

The Coalition issues two major publications on the Nursing Home Reform Act: The Basics and The Ombudsman's Guide familiarizing readers with the law and its impact on daily nursing home life.

The Coalition helps persuade a federal district court to rule that limited Medicaid-bed certification violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act. Attorney Gordon Bonnyman, 1994-1996 board member, brought the case, Linton v. Tennessee, on plaintiffs' behalf.

Ombudsman
An Ombudsman is an advocate for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, and assisted living. Ombudsmen provide information about how to find a facility and what to do to get quality care. They are trained to resolve problems. If you want, the ombudsman can assist you with complaints. However, unless you give the ombudsman permission to share your concerns, these matters are kept confidential.

Under the federal Older Americans Act, every state is required to have an Ombudsman Program that addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long term care system. To find the ombudsman nearest you, contact your State Ombudsman office.

Citizen Advocacy
Citizen advocacy groups are groups of concerned citizens who work to improve the quality of care for nursing home residents in their locality, state, or region. These groups can be very well established organizations with budgets, staff people, and offices or can be as small as a group of concerned citizens who meet around the kitchen table to share information and strategize about how they can work to improve the quality of care in their community.

Members of these groups are often people who have had loved ones in nursing homes and are concerned about nursing home residents. Despite their diversity, all of the groups share a commitment to improving the quality of care and life for residents who are in need of long-term care. They may be able to inform you about resources in your state, the quality of care in particular facilities, and the current status of nursing home reform in your state.

Annual Conference
National Conference and Annual Meeting is for everyone who cares about quality long-term care - residents, family members, citizen advocates, paid and volunteer ombudsmen, attorneys, social workers, certified nursing assistants, nurses, government officials and employees, NCCNHR members and non-members.