Official Site of The State of New Jersey

June 2022

Inspiring Unity within Out Community National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

Are you artistic? Submit your work to National Consumer Voice.

Residents' Rights Month is celebrated in October each year to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities. The 2022 Residents’ Rights Month theme is, Inspiring Unity within Our Community. Creative writing and artistic expression are meaningful and compelling ways to highlight the importance of residents’ rights and how these rights can be carried out in all long-term care settings. For the Resident’s Voice Challenge, residents are encouraged to submit essays, poems, artwork, drawings, or videos related to the theme. Submissions are due in September. For more information call LTCO at 1-877-582-6995.

June is LGBT PRIDE Month

June is PRIDE month, the month of the year designated to celebrating lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people and their struggle for equality. Nursing homes should be welcoming places for all people, no matter how you identify or who you are attracted to. It is not okay for nursing home staff or anyone to make you feel bad for who you are. If you or other LGBTQI residents do not feel welcome, please reach out to us at 1-877-582-6995 and we can work with you to help.

NJ LTCO Staff Spotlight
Leonard Parry, I Choose Home NJ Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator

Born in London, Leonard Parry grew up in Northamptonshire, less than eight miles from the late Princess Diana’s estate, and moved to America in 1968. He worked as a commodities and import/export trader before joining the LTCO as a volunteer.

Leonard’s advocacy comes from a very personal place. “My wife came down with cancer and we battled for six years - hospitalization, rehab, home, and repeat until she passed in 2014, just after our 46th anniversary. She was in a number of nursing homes and we were greatly disappointed in each one – she asked me to find a different home each time,” Parry said.

This experience motivated Leonard to become an LTCO volunteer, and eventually, to accept a position as a representative of the I Choose Home NJ program. The I Choose Home NJ program is a partnership between the LTCO and the NJ Department of Human Services. I Choose Home NJ staff assist individuals who wish to transfer from a nursing home back into the community. In the past 2 years, he has helped over 35 nursing home residents to start the process of moving home.

Leonard noted that some residents are able to return to their families, but many others want to live in their own apartment with regular home aides.

“It can be a challenge to find affordable, accessible housing and support services. But it is so satisfying when we can transition a person back into the community,” he said.

If you are interested in moving home and having someone like Leonard assist you, call 1-855-466-3005.

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Abuse of any form against older people is a crime. Every older adult deserves respect for their contribution to making the younger generation what they are today. If you suspect abuse of a long-term care resident, please call our office at 1-877-582-6995.