Advocating for The Rights of Long-Term Care Residents

How a grassroots Facebook group is advocating for nursing home residents: "We are just families that want to get stuff done. That's all we are."— Mary Nichols   On this episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood, Kim is joined by guest Mary Nichols to discuss the advocacy work being done for long-term care residents in Texas. Mary and a group of family members banded together out of necessity during the pandemic and successfully campaigned for essential family caregivers to have access to facilities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating challenges in life and looking to help others. Topics  1: Long-Term Care Facilities The group organizes campaigns like "Isolation Kills" and "Essential Caregivers" bill and successfully raise money in a short period of time.- The group is made up of families with loved ones in long-term care who want to make a meaningful impact. Topic 2: Ombudsmen Ombudsmen are important advocates for residents in facilities and can identify solutions that facilities and visiting staff may not be able to due to lack of patient knowledge and being short-staffed.During the pandemic, when others were not allowed in facilities, Ombudsmen were still allowed, making them crucial for resident care. Topic 3: Essential Caregivers Family members banded together out of necessity due to loved ones being isolated in long-term care facilities during the pandemic.- Mary started an online petition in June for essential family caregivers to be allowed in facilities.- The group introduced the essential caregiver concept to the state of Texas, and it turned out for the best despite not being planned. Topic 4: Advocacy Work Mary emphasizes that they are volunteers and family members, not lobbyists or attorneys. The group's strength lies in being constituents.- The group was invited to participate in a review of Texas Administrative Code rules for assisted living facilities as family stakeholders.   How to Contact Mary www.TexasCaregiversforCompromise.com [email protected]   Bio: I spent most of my adult life working in municipal government for four different cities in Texas and I founded Texas Caregivers for Compromise in July of 2020. Not only were we successful in getting essential caregiver guidelines included in our emergency visitation guidelines and a state statute adopted but we got essential caregivers put in front of voters as enshrined in Texas Constitution as well. Our group has been recognized by Texas Health and Services Commission as long-term care resident stakeholders and that has allowed me to represent residents in several critical work groups including one that recently updated the Texas Administrative Code as it applies to Assisted Living Facilities and a current Infection Prevention and Control Building Design Task Force that is making recommendations for existing and future facilities. Our leadership team regularly works with other resident stakeholders to support and oppose bills that affect resident rights, and we provide support to families unfamiliar with visitation rights and help them contact their ombudsman.       _____________________________________________________________________ Contact Kim Hegwood- Elder Law Attorney Website: https://yourlegacylegalcare.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourlegacylegalcare/ Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/YourLegacyLegalCare LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourlegacylegalcare/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@yourlegacylegalcare   Your Legacy Legal Care 1150 Clear Lake City Blvd., Suite 100 Houston, TX 77062 (281) 218-0880