Maine State Ombudsman, Brenda Gallant, Cultivates a New Advisory Council for Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Direct-Care Staff

February 13, 2022

Maine nursing home and assisted living facility employees will soon be represented by a new statewide advisory council. This marks the first time in Maine that direct care workers will have a collective voice. Maine direct care workers historically haven’t had an organized voice in policy decisions related to their work, said Brenda Gallant, State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Gallant anticipates there will be about 15 members. They will advise state agencies on recruitment and retention efforts in direct care. The formation of a council was recommended in a report released last week by the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which conducted anonymous focus groups with 58 direct care workers statewide between November and early January.

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