Racial Inequities Summit Highlighted Challenges and Opportunities for PA-LTC
The 2020 Annual Summit of the Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative (AE) explored the topic: Mitigating Racial Inequities in Post-Acute & Long-Term Care. As nursing homes have struggled to adapt to COVID-19 and keep residents safe, the pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated widespread disparities in healthcare outcomes. Amid national cries for racial justice, nursing homes are challenged to understand and address persistent inequalities experienced by patients, staff, and leaders of color.
The AE meeting featured three afternoons of education and action. During Day 1, nationally renowned experts described the presence and causes of racial disparities in nursing homes and how this connects to systemic racism. Residents, family members, staff, and healthcare leaders also shared their experiences and discussed what they are doing, or would recommend doing, to address or respond to inequity. Day 2 featured working sessions for AE members to develop plans of action based on barriers and opportunities identified in Day 1. The meeting culminated on Day 3 with a discussion on these action plans and concrete next steps for advancing equity in PALTC.
View Introduction | Download Summary Report
Larry Minnix
Mr. Minnix is an author, consultant, and former CEO of both LeadingAge and Wesley Woods. He was an original founder of the Advancing Excellence Campaign and has been recognized as an influential leader in long term care throughout his decades long career.
He will greet attendees at the beginning the summit and provide closing reflections on the last day.
December 9, 2020, 1:00 – 5:00 PM: Setting the Stage
Opening and Welcome
Keynote Speaker:
Freeman Hrabowski II
President of UMBC and founder of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, Dr. Hrabowski is a nationally recognized leader who has consulted on science and math education with national agencies, universities, and school systems. He has chaired prominent committees on minority education and has been honored by organizations like TIME and U.S. News & World Report.
State of the Evidence
David Grabowski
Dr. Grabowski is a professor in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. His award-winning research examines the economics of aging with a particular interest in the areas of long-term care and post-acute care. In 2020, Dr. Grabowski’s research found that race and location were related to COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, while Five-Star Rating was not.
State of the Field
Marvell Adams, Jr.
Adams is Chief Operating Officer for The Kendal Corporation, a large not-for-profit senior living organization. Adams, a licensed nursing home administrator, earned a master’s degree from the School of Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill, and serves as a regular guest speaker there, at Cornell University, and Penn State. He has been a sur-veyor for the CARF accrediting body for retirement communities and serves on the Board of Leading Age.
Panels
Panel 1
PALTC Patients and Residents
Moderator:
Robyn Grant, Consumer Voice
Panelists:
Maurice Miller, a nursing home resident
Anne Montgomery, Altarum Institute
Aletta Brinson, a family member and volunteer
Kelly Richards, IL LTC Ombudsman
Panel 2
PALTC Staff
Moderator:
Audrey Wathen, New Jewish Home, NY
Panelists:
Lori Porter, NAHCA
Janet Coffman, University of California, San Francisco
Faith Wiggins, 1199SEIU Funds
Angel Jackson, Coronado Health Care Center, Phoenix AZ
View video
Panel 3
Leadership in PALTC
Moderator:
Hugo Pizarro, ArchCare
Panelists:
Shennoy Wellington, Green Hills Health
Robyn Stone, LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston
Deke Cateau, A.G. Rhodes
Barbara McFadden, McFadden & Associates Healthcare Consultants
Closing Remarks
Arlene Bierman, AHRQ
Bierman leads the work of the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. A general internist, geriatrician, and health services researcher, her work has focused on improving access, quality, and outcomes of health care for older adults with chronic illness in disadvantaged populations.
December 10, 2020, 1:00 – 4:00 PM: Workgroups
(private sessions, not recorded)
Opening and Welcome
Opening remarks: Chris Laxton
Workgroup kickoff
Workgroup 1: PALTC Patients and Residents
Workgroup 2: PALTC Staff
Workgroup 3: Leadership in PALTC
Reconvene and closing remarks
December 11, 2020, 1:00 – 4:00 PM: Workgroup Reports, Outcomes & Next Steps
Opening and Welcome
Opening remarks: Chris Laxton
Workgroup reports & action items:
Workgroup 1: PALTC Patients and Residents Discussion
Workgroup 2: PALTC Staff Discussion
Workgroup 3: Leadership in PALTC Discussion
Conference outcomes and next steps
Conference reflections: Larry Minnix