Thursday, November 04, 2021 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Altarum’s Deputy Director of Eldercare Improvement Sarah Slocum will facilitate a dialogue between a group of 5-10 nursing home residents during the 45th annual conference of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. The residents will discuss their recent experiences and share their perspective on what changes they'd like to see in their individual facilities as well as what steps they think advocacy organizations, the government, and the industry should take to improve and reform long-term care.
Over the past two years, it has been more difficult than ever for long-term care residents to connect and make their voices heard. As Altarum brought to light in a survey of residents during the summer of 2020, enforced pandemic lockdowns brought life-altering social isolation and loneliness—resulting in despondency and failure to thrive.
A former long-term care ombudsman for the state of Michigan, Sarah is committed to elevating residents’ voices and improving the residential long-term care sector so that it is as safe as possible while offering older adults and people with disabilities a good quality of life. She supports Altarum’s work improving resident quality of life through nursing home culture change and recently advised policymakers on strengthening Michigan’s long-term care workforce.
The Consumer Voice is a leading national organization representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. Their all-virtual annual conference “Moving Forward Together” runs November 3–5, 2021. Learn more about this event and register here.