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• Nursing Home Residents
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  • Getting Quality Care
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Assisted Living: Getting Quality Care

This page contains resources and information to help you get help and advocate for quality long-term care. Click on the topic areas below to find more information.

• Law and Regulations
• Citizen Advocacy Groups
• Be an Advocate
• Resident-Directed Care or "Culture Change"

Law and Regulations

Assisted living facilities are covered by state regulations rather than by federal regulations.  Thus, the regulations for assisted living facilites vary by state.  A report that summarizes each state's assisted living rules is available from the National Center for Assisted Living.

Your state Licensure and Certifications office can provide you with information about the status of any assisted living regulations in your state, or refer you to an office that can help you.  Contact your state's Licensure and Certifications Agency  for more information. 

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Citizen Advocacy Groups

Citizen advocacy groups (CAGs) are groups of concerned citizens who work to improve the quality of care for nursing home residents in their locality, state, or region, and many groups have expanded their focus to address quality of care issues across the long-term care continuum.  Members of these groups are often people who have had loved ones in nursing homes and are concerned about nursing home residents.  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 long-term care reform in your state.

Visit our citizen advocacy group page to find a CAG in your state to connect with others who are interested in long-term care reform. 

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Resident-Directed Care or "Culture Change"

The Consumer Voice encourages all residents, family members and advocates to learn more about the resident directed/centered care, also called "culture change," that is in many ways the full implementation of the 1987 nursing home reform law.  Click here to learn more and to access several valuable resources.

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