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Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Sen. Levesque to Announce Passage of "Culture Change" legislation in RI Nursing Homes

Providence, RI - August 3, 2010

Lt. Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts will hold a press conference at 10:30 am on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at the Tockwotton Home on 75 East Street, Providence, to celebrate the passage of the Nursing Home Culture Change legislation passed into law in June of this year. Also in attendance will be Senator Charles J. Levesque, Ray Rusin, chief of facilities regulation for the RI Department of Health, and Kevin McKay, Executive Director of Tockwotton Home.

The term "culture change" refers to the transformation of older adult services based on person-directed values and practices where the voices of elders and those working with them are considered and respected. This legislation, sponsored by Senator Charles J. Levesque and House Health, Education, and Welfare Committee Chairman Joseph M. McNamara, maintains the statewide cap on nursing facility beds but provides that, as beds become available due to the closure or reduction of facilities, the majority of those beds will be transferred to home-like facilities that reflect the culture change values.

“As Chair of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, I supported this legislation,” explained Lt. Governor Roberts, “because I believe our elders deserve care that adheres to a set of basic core values that respect choice, dignity, self-determination and purposeful living. This legislation will not only improve the quality of their care, but also their quality of life,” said Roberts.

“Patients and their families are increasingly seeking more comfortable, personal, home-like atmospheres in nursing facilities,” said Senator Levesque. “This is a plan that will help transform and improve the care of the elderly in Rhode Island without harming the industry. It will help Rhode Island’s nursing homes move toward the cutting edge and provide the kind of setting that the patients and families of today want,” the senator added.

Representative McNamara has stated, “This legislation ensures that nursing facilities will be able to maintain their strength as the industry develops, making plenty of room for innovation without weakening traditional-care facilities.” He later explained the necessity of maintaining a “robust” nursing home industry for the health of all those involved.

Who:

Lt. Gov Elizabeth Roberts, Senator Charles J. Levesque, Representative Joseph McNamara (invited), Ray Rusin, Chief of facilities regulation, RI Department of Health, Kevin McKay, Executive Director, Tockwotton Home

What:

Lt. Gov Roberts to celebrate Nursing Home Culture Change legislation

When:

Thursday, August 5 at 10:30am

Where:

Tockwotton Home, 75 East Street, Providence, RI 02903,

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