Discover the origins of VOYCE, founded in 1979 as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, dedicated to empowering seniors in the St. Louis area.
Let’s explore another local nonprofit, VOYCE, formerly known as Long-Term Care Ombudsman. I remember them from my time working in long-term care nursing facilities. This organization has been serving the community for many years, consistently assisting older Americans in their daily lives.
Check out their story:
As Medicare and Medicaid expanded through the 1960s and 1970s, so did the role of long-term care communities or nursing homes in the United States. As they grew, so did public concern about the care residents were receiving. Reports of residents dying as shoddy carpets carried uncontrollable fires through facilities and others dying because they did not receive care after having food poisoning led to public outcries for better treatment for those in long-term care.
In 1978, Congress created the nationwide Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program through the Older Americans Act. Soon after, State and local ombudsman organizations began forming throughout the United States.
VOYCE was originally founded in 1979 as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of St. Louis (LTCOP) under the Lutheran Mission Association of Metropolitan St. Louis as part of this movement.
In 1991, LTCOP was recognized by the IRS and the State of Missouri as an independent 501(c)(3) organization. It has been known as VOYCE since September 2012.
Throughout the years, the organization has grown to include VOYCEconnect, our information and referral resource for the community, systemic advocacy, and education for families and long-term care professionals.
Our programs help people living in long-term care, educate people on aging and long-term care topics, and fix systems that keep older adults and people with disabilities from living life to the fullest.
Our mission is to amplify the voices and transform the lives of long-term care residents through advocacy, community building, and systemic policy change.
Our vision is a world where every long-term care resident lives with dignity and respect, receiving the highest quality of care. We strive for a community that champions their rights and continually advocates for the improvement of services to enhance quality of life throughout their lifespan.
Goals
- Increase legislative awareness of issues faced by long-term care residents.
- Champion state laws aimed at improving long-term care services.
- Drive changes in making long-term care a safe, supportive, and dignified place to live.
We meet by Zoom on the fourth Friday of each month at 10:00 am CT.
Our next meeting will be on February 28, 2025 at 10:00 am CT. Sign up below to join us.
Membership is free and provides:
- Empowerment to improve care for loved ones.
- A platform to share concerns and experiences.
- Access to residents rights, resources, and information.
- A network of other families and residents.
Your tax-deductible donation helps further the work of the coalition. Donate Now.
8050 Watson Road, Ste 155
St. Louis, Missouri
314.918.8222
VOYCE, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, St. Louis nonprofit, senior empowerment, LTCOP history
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