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AHCA/NCAL Families4Care Enlists Friends of LTC

Earlier this year The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center For Assisted Living (NCAL) launched Families 4 Care, a program to encourage grassroots advocacy on the part of family and friends of long term care.

AHCA/NCAL plan to enlist this grassroots force with the aid of facility leaders who were urged to hold meetings to promote participation in Families4Care. This spring members received promotional material for the Families 4 Care program that included a presenter's kit with a video, suggested presentation and various marketing materials. Members can order, free of charge, additional or replacement presenters or marketing materials, such as the Families4Care pamphlet, by calling
1-800-628-8140.

Families4Care participants will be asked to join a registry to receive periodic updates on issues and alerts to take action on either state or national matters. One common technique that will be used is to direct traffic to AHCA/NCAL's grassroots Web site (www.ahca.org) where sample letters are available and can be customized for legislators and other elected officials.

This is not an alternative family council group, though if a facility already has a family council it can be an excellent way to focus efforts on big-picture issues such as quality of care, financial stability, and recruiting staff. For elected officials it will put constituent face on issues of close interest to people using long term care services.

Families4Care should also be promoted to staff, volunteers, vendors and other friends of long term care.