More training for long-term care workers

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Op-ed (April 22, 2008)

(Excerpt from Op-ed)

"...It should have been easy for the Legislature to act on the work group's recommendation. The governor strongly supported better training and made a personal appeal to get a bill enacted this session. Advocates for seniors and people with disabilities, workers, employers and policymakers supported the governor's proposed legislation. Yet, the Legislature failed to act. This outcome is not acceptable.

Issues affecting seniors and long-term care keep getting lost in Olympia. We have a tradition in Washington of going to the voters when the Legislature fails to act on critical issues. Perhaps this is one of those special situations where the initiative process is especially fitting. The Legislature has had two opportunities to do the right thing for seniors and people with disabilities and failed. Maybe it's time for the people to finish what the Legislature started?... "

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Nancy Dapper is director of the western and central Washington state chapter of Alzheimer's Association. Louise Ryan is the Washington state Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Nora Gibson, executive director of Elderhealth NW, and Hilke Faber, founder of the Resident Councils of Washington, also contributed to the column.

Click here to read the full article on the Seattle P-I website

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