YOU HAVE NO DOUBT HEARD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES PRESENTLY BEING DEBATED IN FLORIDA’S LEGISLATURE.

 FLORIDA’S AARP, THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT, BENTLEY LIPSCOMB, HAS VOICED STRONG SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS BY INCREASING STAFFING AND REQUIRING MORE TRAINING, AND ALSO SUPPORTS MAINTAINING THE RIGHT OF RESIDENTS TO ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THE PRESENT SPECIAL TORT PROVISIONS.
 
 THE AARP POSITION IN FLORIDA MIRRORS THE NATIONAL AAARP POLICY ON THE NURSING HOME ISSUE.  MR. LIPSCOMB’S POSITION HAS BEEN SET OUT IN THE NEWSPAPERS QUITE OFTEN RECENTLY, AND IS INTENDED TO PROTECT NURSING HOME RESIDENTS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.

 IF YOU BELIEVE, AS MANY DO, THAT DETERIORATION OF RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS TO ACCOUNTABILITY WILL RETURN FLORIDA TO THE TIME MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WAS SO RAMPANT THAT GRAND JURIES FELT IT NECESSARY TO INTERVENE.  

 IN RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS OF THE GRAND JURIES, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE FIRST DELINEATED THE BASIC RIGHTS OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS TO LIFE AND CARE, AND THEN, WHEN THAT DID NOT TURN THE SITUATION AROUND, THE LEGISLATURE ADDED STRONG ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS FOR THEIR PROTECTION.

 IF YOU CONCUR WITH THE NEED TO REQUIRE IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF CARE FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, AND MAINTAINING THEIR RIGHT TO ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THE PRESENT SPECIAL TORT PROVISIONS, AND IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF AARP, YOU MAY WISH TO  E MAIL OR FAX A NOTE TO THAT EFFECT,   AND  MENTIONING THE FACT THAT YOU ARE AN AARP MEMBER,  TO THE AARP’S TALLAHASSEE OFFICE :
        [email protected]  (just click on blue address to send e-mail)
or send a FAX: 850-222-8968

IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE A LONG LETTER, JUST SIMPLY LETTING YOUR VOICE BE HEARD ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
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      ALSO...

STATE REPRESENTATIVE NANCY ARGENZIANO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHICH OVERSEES THE ELDER CARE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.  SHE ALSO SUPPORTS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE IN NURSING HOMES, AND MAINTAINING THE RIGHT OF RESIDENTS TO ACCOUNTABILITY.  IF YOU SUPPORT HER IN THIS POSITION YOU MAY WISH TO LET HER KNOW IT TOO.

IF SO, A LETTER REFLECTING YOUR SUPPORT CAN BE FAXED TO HER CRYSTAL RIVER OFFICE:
FAX :  352-860-5177

(RATHER THAN E MAIL TO TALLAHASSEE – WHICH I AM TOLD IS NOT RELIABLE)

 IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A LONG LETTER – A SHORT NOTE WOULD DO, JUST SO LONG AS YOU LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.