Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC)

08/18/2026

Please join us for KABC’s Annual Caregiver Training & Membership Meeting!

Caring for a loved one with memory loss can bring difficult decisions and many questions. This year’s caregiver training will help families better understand when memory care may be the right choice, what to look for in a community, and how to navigate the process with confidence.

We’ll also begin with a brief KABC membership meeting for voting members. Voting members are individuals who have donated to KABC over the past year.

📅 September 10, 2026
📍 Zoom, link available upon registration
⏰ 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Whether you’re currently caring for a loved one or planning ahead, we hope you’ll join us!

Registration is required. Learn more and register: www.kabc.org/events

08/13/2026

Your right to choose your pharmacy shouldn’t come with a $300 price tag.

07/30/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in Wichita for our community event! We were grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many older Kansans, caregivers, advocates, and community partners who share our commitment to improving long-term care and aging services across Kansas.

A special thank you to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislators for partnering with us to make this event possible. We appreciate your continued leadership and advocacy on behalf of older Kansans, and we're proud to work alongside you to educate, empower, and create positive change in our communities.

Thank you to everyone who attended, asked thoughtful questions, shared your experiences, and helped make the event such a success. We look forward to seeing you at future events as we continue working together to ensure every Kansan can age with dignity, independence, and the care they deserve.

07/27/2026

Budget decisions have real consequences.

Kansas has eliminated the Money Follows the Person program and created a waitlist for Frail Elderly (FE) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). These changes mean more older Kansans may face delays in getting the support they need to remain safely at home.

When older adults can't access services in the community, families are left carrying the burden, and many may be forced into more costly institutional care.

07/20/2026

Families should never have to wonder whether their loved one is safe.

A recent KFF investigation highlights the difficult reality that some people living with dementia can develop behaviors that put themselves or others at risk and that too many long-term care settings struggle to provide the staffing, training, and supervision needed to respond appropriately.

We know these situations are complex. People living with dementia deserve compassionate, person-centered care, not stigma. At the same time, every resident has the right to live in a safe environment.

This is why adequate staffing, specialized dementia training, thorough care planning, and strong oversight matter. Families should feel empowered to ask questions about how a facility assesses residents' needs, manages behavioral changes, and keeps everyone safe.

If you have concerns about the care a loved one is receiving in a Kansas nursing home or assisted living community, KABC is here to help you understand your rights and explore your options.

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/19/nx-s1-5894692/dementia-violence-warning-supervision-nursing-homes-assisted-living-facility

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be fertile ground for violence between residents with dementia, including fatal assaults. Court records and inspecitions how safeguards fall short.

07/15/2026

Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga with Kansas News Service is looking to interview FE waiver participants who would like to tell their story about why this program is so vital, especially with the new waitlist.

Please reach out to Bek through email at [email protected] or call/text 660-654-9105.

Please share with your communities! Thank you all!

07/10/2026

Hey all, Libby here! 👋

Four years ago today, I started at KABC, and I can honestly say this work has changed me.

Over the last four years, I've had the privilege of advocating for older Kansans and their families, helping connect people to resources, telling stories that matter, working alongside incredible advocates, and fighting for policies that help people age with dignity. It's been challenging, emotional, and incredibly rewarding.

I'm grateful to my coworkers, our board, and everyone who believes that every Kansan deserves quality long-term care and the support they need to live with independence and respect.

I'm especially thankful for the opportunity to use my voice and creativity for something that truly makes a difference.

Thank you all 🌻💛

07/09/2026

Kansas is creating a waitlist for the Frail Elderly (FE) HCBS Medicaid waiver, and the consequences WILL be significant.

We estimate that 600 older Kansans will be affected initially, potentially increasing to 1,700 by the end of SFY 2027. That estimate is based on the last time Kansas implemented an FE waitlist in 2003, when roughly 20% of eligible older adults were impacted.

Back then, the waitlist was short-lived because legislators heard directly from constituents and families about the catastrophic consequences of delaying home and community-based services for older adults. Today, it’s unclear whether this waitlist will be resolved as quickly.

What makes this especially frustrating is that home and community-based services generally cost about one-third as much as nursing facility care. Supporting older adults at home is often better for families and a smarter use of taxpayer dollars.

Yet some legislators argued that the $31 million needed to prevent the waitlist was simply too expensive. This came from the same legislative body that approved a $200 million corporate nursing facility rate increase in 2025.

That raises an important question: Is this really about what Kansas can afford, or about what Kansas chooses to prioritize?

For older Kansans and their families, the answer matters.

Thank you, KSNT 27 News, for highlighting this important update.

07/07/2026

This is not because the need disappeared. It’s because the need has grown faster than the state’s willingness to fund it.

KDADS has announced that new admissions to the Frail Elderly Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver will be placed on a waitlist beginning July 6, 2026. This is one of the primary programs that helps older adults receive care in their homes and communities instead of being forced into institutional care. For the first time in many years, eligible older Kansans may qualify for services and still be told to wait.

For years, advocates have warned that underinvestment in aging services would eventually lead to a crisis. Now we are here. Families caring for aging parents, spouses, and loved ones are already stretched thin. A waitlist means some older adults may go without the support they need to bathe, prepare meals, manage medications, or remain safely at home.

Older Kansans should not have to wait for basic services that help them live with dignity and independence.

KDADS to Implement Waitlist for Frail Elderly HCBS Waiver Effective July 6, 2026

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) announced today that a waitlist for the Frail Elderly Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver will take effect today, July 6, 2026, due to the Legislature allotting insufficient funding in the face of continued high demand for services that exceeds the currently available waiver slots. This waiver allows for individuals to live in their own homes and communities who would otherwise require more expensive nursing home services.

"We are seeing continued high demand for the Frail Elderly HCBS waiver, reflecting the growing need for critical services that allow Kansans to receive the care they need closer to home," said KDADS Long Term Services and Supports Commissioner Michele Heydon. "While we are implementing a waitlist for new applicants, KDADS remains committed to processing everyone currently in the pipeline and managing the waitlist as fairly and transparently as possible."

Full release: https://www.kdads.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/83/316 #!/

07/02/2026

Navigating long-term care can feel overwhelming for older adults, family caregivers, and loved ones alike. Whether you're planning for the future, facing difficult decisions now, or simply have questions, you're not alone.

Join KABC and the Kansas Silver Haired Legislators for an open community discussion about long-term care. We'll talk about residents' rights, planning ahead, common concerns, and the resources available to help Kansans make informed decisions.

We're honored to welcome two KABC board members:
⭐ Camille Russell, Former Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman
⭐ Molly Wood, Elder Law Attorney with Stevens & Brand LLP

📅 Wednesday, July 22, 2026
🕡 6:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 Rockwell Branch Library
5939 E. 9th St. N., Wichita, KS

Bring your questions, concerns, or simply come to listen and learn. Question forms will also be available at check-in.

This event is free and open to the public. We hope you'll join us for an important conversation about ensuring dignity, quality, and choice for older Kansans.

For more information:
📞 785-842-3088
📧 [email protected]