Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

The Long Term Community Coalition released a new report illustrating how it worked with consumers and long-term care ombudsmen to make the best use of civil monetary penalties assessed by regulators in various communities.

The report, funded by The Retirement Research Foundation and The Commonwealth Fund, outlines how CMPs can be a valuable resource in improving care and the quality of life for nursing home residents. It also provides ideas for how nursing homes can respond to the push for transparency that a recent Government Accountability Office report mentions. The report, “Increasing Transparency & Consumer Participation In States Uses Of Nursing Home Civil Monetary Penalty Funds,” points out that having senior advocates and consumers work together on funding is crucial to making their projects successful. These collaborative projects have also proven to be more successful in areas that have ample public transportation, according to the report.

The LTCC worked with ombudsmen in four states: Georgia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and California. In Georgia, participants persuaded state officials to fund local ombudsman programs, and convince ombudsmen that their own funds should be allocated to culture change activities.