Washington Long-Term Care Ombuds

06/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BMjxADq6w/

Dining with Dignity in Long Term Care. New episode. Free Podcast.

06/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BGtrg4tMf/

Every nursing home resident has the legal right to be free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and misappropriation of property.

Under federal law, this includes freedom from:
-Corporal punishment
-Involuntary seclusion
-Any physical or chemical restraint not required to treat a medical condition
-Verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse

These are not suggestions, they are federally protected rights, and it's crucial that residents know them in order to demand them.

Visit https://theconsumervoice.org/residents-rights to learn more.

05/29/2026

https://ncea.usc.edu/weaad/

Hi there! Sign up for the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Movement Challenge!!! I created a Washington team. Look for the team named "Washingtonians for LTC Residents!". Join the team by creating an account and then record the minutes of movement as part of the team record. The link above will take you to the "join a team" section.

Learn about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) and join efforts to raise awareness and protect the rights of older adults.

05/27/2026

Finding this organization and its factsheets about Medicare helpful!

⚡Medicare DME Snapshot (Scroll Down for Full Details & Infographics)
Medicare covers durable medical equipment (DME) like wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen if it's prescribed by your doctor and meant for home use. DME must be durable and medically necessary. Prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (like glucose monitors and test strips) are also covered. Coverage is the same for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. To check if your equipment is covered or to find a supplier, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit medicare.gov.

Medicare & DME: The Full Story
Durable medical equipment (DME) is equipment that helps you complete your daily activities. It includes a variety of items, such as walkers, wheelchairs, and oxygen tanks. Medicare usually covers DME if the equipment:
• Is durable, meaning it is able to withstand repeated use
• Serves a medical purpose
• Is appropriate for use in the home, although you can also use it outside the home
• And is likely to last for three years or more

To be covered by Part B, DME must be prescribed by your primary care provider (P*P). If you are in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or are a hospital inpatient, DME is covered by Part A.

Medicare also covers prosthetics (devices that replace all or part of a bodily organ), orthotics (certain supports for body parts), and supplies. This equipment falls under the broad category called durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).

Whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, the types of Medicare-covered equipment are the same.

Examples of DME include:
• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Hospital beds
• Power scooters
• Portable oxygen equipment
• Blood glucose monitors

Prosthetics can include prosthetic devices that replace all or part of an internal bodily organ–including catheters for permanent conditions artificial legs, arms, and eyes.

Orthotics include rigid or semi-rigid leg, arm, back, and neck braces.

Medical supplies include diabetes test strips and lancets used with glucose monitors. It also includes some prescription medications and supplies used with covered DME, like medications used with nebulizers.

To find out if Medicare covers the equipment or supplies you need, or to find a DME supplier in your area, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. You can also learn about Medicare coverage of DME by contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Memory Cafes give people living with dementia and their care partners a place to enjoy time with others.

Join us on June 12th for a free, in-person session on how to start one in your community. The presentation will be given by the UW Brain and Wellness Center.

You’ll learn the basics and hear what makes these gatherings work.

Spaces are limited. Show your interest today through this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/AuXu3fXiqX?origin=lprLink

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[Photo description: A close-up of a senior's hands in a busy community setting. The right holds a paint brush. The left holds a piece of pottery.]

05/27/2026

Free virtual webinar on Elder Justice Month available!

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05/26/2026

Kyle Busch’s family says the NASCAR superstar died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, a dangerous condition that many people do not understand.