Our Mission

Who We Fight For

Why We Fight

To fight for the immediate restoration of rights for residents in long term care facilities.

We specifically demand an update to the federal, state and county policies regarding visitation now that the vaccine has been administered to a majority of residents in long term care. This altered guidance should not penalize vaccinated residents on behalf of other residents and staff members who decline the vaccine. The new language should be clear, unambiguous and enforceable.

We also demand the federal designation of an essential caregiver to be granted access no matter the public emergency. This Essential Caregiver would be tested as staff, trained as staff, PPE supplied as staff and therefore pose no more safety threat than staff.

As these are the policies that dictate the wellbeing and rights of our loved ones, most of whom cannot speak for themselves, as well as our involvement with their care, we demand a process where we are allowed to comment before guidance is issued and/or amended, now or in the future.

The doors of nursing homes aren’t the only ones locked.

Yes, we are fighting for our elderly parents and grandparents, but we are also fighting for…

Spouses and siblings living with disabilities in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Adult children living with disabilities in Independent Living Facilities and Specialized Mental Health Facilities

Parents and grandparents in Assisted Living Facilities

There is a massive violation of rights based on ageism and ableism that is keeping a population locked in their facilities under the pretenses of a year long national health emergency. When will it end?

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 public health emergency was declared, the 1135 Waiver was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services granting state governors executive power to control various policies regulating residential healthcare facilities, including visitation. One year later those powers are still intact and active despite changes to the current state of public health.

In 1987, the Nursing Home Reform Act established a Nursing Home Bill of Rights into federal law which guarantees residents the right to receive visitors, use their own physician, be free of physical restraints (leave the facility when they choose), participate in resident and family groups, make their own care choices, use their own property, be free of abuse and neglect, and receive medical, physical, psychological, and social care. None of these rights are guaranteed without the outside visitors who advocate on behalf of the residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s, cognitive disorders, or cognitive injuries. The current ban on long term care visitation is a direct violation of these rights.

Over the course of the past year, our loved ones have been living in strict social isolation which has led to an increase in death rates due to “failure to thrive”. In addition, families have been locked out during the end of life stages and too many have died alone. Massive staffing shortages and lack of oversight are now the foot soldiers to an increase in resident neglect and abuse. The world has moved on despite the initial declared public emergency. Restaurants fill with patrons. Sporting arenas allow fans. The CDC states two vaccinations no longer require a quarantine… and yet our loved ones continue to suffer behind locked doors.