News Archive

“Nicole Howell, executive director for Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa Inc., said ‘COVID-19 attacks vulnerable citizens through holes in U.S. safety net services.’” Read more from ThinkAdvisor on paying for long-term care, the impacts of COVID-19 more from the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee supporting the argument.

Thank you, to the Mercury News for writing this story featuring our Executive Director Nicole Howell, and amplifying the voices of our senior community. The impacts of this pandemic have forever changed long-term care and the elder care industry. We will continue to fight for older adults everywhere and speak out on the systemic and policy changes that need to happen now. Read More >> 

These numbers are alarming! As our Executive Director, Nicole Howell, mentions in the article – there is an overwhelming need to improve regulation and oversight in skilled nursing facilities as this pandemic continues to impact our seniors and care staff. Find out more.

NBC Bay Area News Alert: Nursing Homes and the Coronavirus Outbreak As our Executive Director discussed in this interview, facilities are taking the outbreak seriously, but we agree this is a hardship for families, staff, and residents. Facilities should work with residents to find creative ways to maintain connections with the outside community via Skype, zoom, facetime, phone, etc. Watch this interview for more.

NBC Bay Area Investigative Report: As we all know, our seniors and elderly are most at risk for contracting COVID-19 and many are isolated in long-term care facilities throughout the state. While stricter visitation policies are in place there are still things residents and families can do to maintain connection and ensure a loved one is receiving the care they need. Watch this video now!

We know that seniors and older dependent adults have been struggling since the rapid outbreak of COVID-19, but the bigger picture isn’t clear. Thank you to The Independent for covering Senator Glazer’s Town Hall. Our Executive Director, Nicole Howell, among other panelists, shares some very interesting insights into what’s actually going on in our senior communities today.

It’s so exciting to see the support for our elder community and the care staff working hard to keep them safe and protected. Thank you, NBC Bay Area, for joining us at the PPE distribution for RCFEs and ARFs in Contra Costa County. We appreciate your support!

If we thought that the impacts on our long-term care patients from COVID-19 were simply social isolation, we need to think again. With the threat being so severe, state regulators and patient advocates are now no longer allowed to visit either. As our Executive Director state in this article, we need the staff and residents alike to think we can and will arrive at any time. This further isolation calls for even more oversight and stronger plans in place to keep our seniors safe during this very challenging time. We can’t let patient care and needs fall through the cracks.

Our thanks to the collaborators on this blog highlighting the relationship between long-term care facilities and local health departments throughout the pandemic, lessons learned, and more. Please read and share with your followers.

Missed our Executive Director, Nicole Howell on KQED Forum? Listen now as she discusses the impacts of the last year on older adults, the state of the elder care industry, and lessons learned.

We are honored to support this innovative public-private partnership to bring COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff to the often-overlooked “six-bed” facilities in Contra Costa County. These clinics are saving lives and bringing hope all in one shot. A special thanks to Contra Costa Health Services and Choice in Aging for their amazing work.

While they wait, the people working and living in those locations are stuck in limbo, hoping the virus doesn’t spread to them or return, said Nicole Howell, who runs a California-based non-profit that advocates for long-term care residents.” Thank you to the AP for including our Executive Director in the continuing coverage of the COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Read more of the latest news now

The pace of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, led by the pharmacy partnership, lags behind expectations causing worry and frustration among families and industry watchdogs. Hear more from California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform‘s Mike Dark and our Executive Director, Nicole Howell, as they talk about this issue along with facility staff and families who have been impacted thus far.

Our vulnerable #longtermcare communities, there is still confusion about implementation and some obstacles to overcome in terms of distribution and managing impacts from side effects. Thank you to The New York Times for including our executive director in this coverage. We hope you take a moment to read more about this breaking news.

We’re happy to share this issue of the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Magazine dedicated to lessons learned from the pandemic. This issue features our executive director Nicole Howell and other #seniorcare professionals responsible for advocating for #longtermcare residents and their families, sharing powerful stories and insights.

Thank you, to Pleasanton Weekly, for sharing the news of our new name! We appreciate your support for not only us but our elder community. You can read more on PleasantonWeekly.com

All residents in long-term care have rights! We’re proud to share the Public Service Announcement highlighting residents’ rights and sharing more about how our ombudsman program advocates for our senior community in Alameda County. We want to thank our Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Coordinator in Alameda, Charmaine Brent, for collaborating with Alameda County Social Services Agency to share this important message.

We are proud to announce the graduation of the fourth cohort of Certified Nursing Assistant students from the Healthcare Career Pathway program – Empowered Aging’s partnership with Opportunity Junction and Concord’s Mt. Diablo Adult Education. The 12-week training course is twice the length required by the state, and because of the intensive training, 19 newly minted graduates are going directly into the workforce with the equivalent of one year of work experience. Our Executive Director, Susannah Meyer, who also holds office as Vice Mayor for the City of Brentwood, was invited to speak during the ceremony. After the graduation, she stated, “I appreciate the opportunity in my role as an elected official to commemorate such a special event and an inspirational group of students. I can’t wait to see all they do for those they go on to serve in our community.”

Empowered Aging takes on the most critical issues surrounding those who need our support. We never stop fighting to raise awareness, protect against abuse or neglect, and advocate for policy change that will make a difference. Inspired by World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, we’re proud to share with you the See Me. Hear Me.™ awareness campaign. Our goal is to protect those we serve while helping the community understand that aging, living in care facilities, and needing the help of others to survive does not mean you lose your identity, humanity, or right to be seen and heard. To learn more about joining us, please visit https://empoweredaging.org/seemehearme. #SeeMeHearMe #EmpoweredAging #ElderJustice