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On Tuesday, June 9th, the Advocacy Center released Beyond Repair: An Investigation Into Serious Abuse and Death at Northeast Supports and Service Center. The report exposes a culture of disregard for residents’ rights and a consistent substandard level of care that continues to endanger those who remain at the institution. Download the full press release. Disaster Food Stamp Application ProceduresDuring past disasters, the Advocacy Center has received a number of complaints from people who have not been able to register in person for Disaster Food Stamps because they cannot wait in line or otherwise access the centers where applications are being taken. We have tried to push for alternative means of applying for the benefits. This year, the Department of Social Services is offering people the opportunity to pre-apply for Disaster Food Stamps on-line or by phone. According to DSS’s press release, to pre-apply, residents can visit www.dss.louisiana.gov and provide the following information:
The information will be kept securely on file and will be confidential. If residents do not have on-line access, they may call 1-888-LA HELP U (1-888-524-3578) to apply as well. DSS’s press release states: Pre-applying does not guarantee benefits. After a disaster, residents who have pre-applied will still need to visit a Disaster Food Stamp issuance site to verify their information and identity to determine final eligibility and receive their benefit cards. Eligibility requirements and DFSP locations will only be announced after a disaster.Louisiana residents who already receive regular Food Stamps do not need to pre-apply. If regular Food Stamp recipients are eligible for additional benefits, they will be added to their monthly benefit amount automatically. Recent Success Stories - Every Day, Making A Difference in a Number of Small WaysWe often report about the Advocacy Center’s big projects and big successes; but we also like to tell you about the many small ways our staff makes a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and seniors. Here are a few: AC Helps Client to Get Home-based Services ReinstatedA 93 year old woman was receiving Elderly and Disabled Adult waiver services and Long-Term Personal Care Services at home when she was hospitalized last Fall. Against her wishes, she was discharged from the hospital to a nursing home. The support coordination agency that had been assisting her with her home-based services brought her a form to sign while she was in the nursing home. The client did not realize that the form stated she had decided not to accept waiver services. The client managed to leave the nursing home only to learn when she returned home that, based on the form, she would not be given home-based services. The client's only child is undergoing cancer treatments and has been unable to help her. Because she lost her waiver services, the client also lost her eligibility for other Medicaid services because her Medicaid eligibility was based only on her waiver eligibility. Before calling Advocacy Center, the client went to an appeal hearing to challenge the loss of her Medicaid coverage and the Administrative Law Judge ruled against her. After the client called Advocacy Center, AC wrote a demand letter to the Department of Health and Hospitals stating that litigation would be necessary if the Department did not restore the client's home-based services. In response to the letter, the Department has agreed to reinstate the client's home-based services and has agreed to instruct all support coordination agencies that they are not to create and use the type of form that the support coordination agency used in this client's case. AC's Facebook Project Yields Lagniappe for People with DisabilitiesThe Advocacy Center, with funding from the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, has been providing a small stipend to people with disabilities to contribute to discussion on AC's Facebook and Disaboom pages, in the hopes that this would be a good way to get people with disabilities talking about issues of importance to them and a way for AC to share information. Below is a testimonial from one the participants in the project and his mother: "Thank you,... I learned and made some online friends and would like to do it again if you ever have that open and my mom would like to add a note to you." "(T)hank you so much for this project. I doubt that the intention was to teach uses of the computer to any of the other participants because most of them appeared to be professionals, however let me assure you that this project has enriched my son's life considerably as well as several other of friends of his with similar intellectual disabilities in that it helped them to learn to use the computer to find answers to the hurdles of SSI and SSDI, state information as well as information about the Advocacy Center. All too often they are afraid to ask and therefore are overlooked. Please thank the "Powers That Be" who conceived and executed this project; there is so much more that needs to be done.-Sincerely,. . .' Have (the right) Wheel, Will TravelAdvocacy Center staff have demonstrated great determination and persistence in making sure that a nursing home orders the specific type of wheelchair that a client needs and as ordered by the doctor. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals began required nursing homes to pay for wheelchairs that meet the individual needs of residents who are Medicaid recipients almost four years ago. Prior to that, payment was made by Medicaid. This nursing home was trying its hardest to avoid its obligation to the resident. First, the administrator denied responsibility for purchasing the wheelchair altogether. Then he decided he would set a price limit on what he would order without at all considering the type of wheelchair this gentleman needs. After AC's efforts, the right wheelchair is on the way! Support the Advocacy Center by Shopping At Winn Dixie!It's easy!Just print out the activation coupon in the link below, keep one coupon and give the other to a friend who also wants to support our organization. The next time you shop at Winn-Dixie, present the activation coupon along with your Winn-Dixie Customer Reward card at checkout. The cashier will scan both the Customer Reward card and the activation coupon, instantly enrolling you and earning points for the Advocacy Center. For all future purchases, you’ll collect points for the Advocacy Center when you use your Customer Reward Card. If you don’t have a Winn-Dixie Customer Reward Card, no problem! Just stop by Customer Service and sign up for one – it’s FREE! Link to the Coupon in JPG format Link to the Coupon in PDF format Volunteer to Help People with Disabilities and Seniors in Emergency SheltersAfter a disaster, people with disabilities and the elderly need your help during their stay in emergency shelters. YOU can help in so many ways. You can read to someone who is blind, help orient someone to the shelter’s layout, assist with dressing, eating, getting in and out of his/her cot, getting to the restroom, etc. With your help an already difficult experience can be a little less stressful. To register as a volunteer go to www.lava.dhh.louisiana.gov. Or, for more information about this volunteer opportunity contact Jeanne Abadie at the Advocacy Center at 504-522-2337, ext. 130 or 1-800-960-7705, ext. 130. The Advocacy Center is Louisiana's protection and advocacy system. Federal law requires that a protection and advocacy system operate in every state to protect the rights of persons with mental or physical disabilities. The Advocacy Center is also funded by the state to provide legal assistance to people residing in nursing homes in Louisiana, as well as to residents 60 years and older of Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Tammany Parishes (counties); and to advocate for the rights of group home and nursing home residents. Among the diverse services offered are legal representation, information and referral, outreach and training. The Advocacy Center is a tax-exempt, private non-profit corporation organized in 1978 and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. It is based in New Orleans with branch offices in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Shreveport. |
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The Protection and Advocacy System for Louisiana ~ Serving People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens Advocacy Center |
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