Lackluster ratings and increase in complaints leads to Virginia nursing home advisory board creation
Governor Youngkin has assembled a 20-member committee that will give direction for some of Virginia’s most vulnerable patients.
The Nursing Home Oversight and Accountability Advisory Board is a result of a less-than-stellar review of current skilled nursing facilities that have Virginia ranked 38th in the nation in elderly care.
Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton told a state subcommittee in July there has been an increase in the number and severity of nursing homes cited for placing the patient’s health at risk.
“…We’ve had an increase, also, in the number of complaints for nursing home for the past several years, a 59 percent increase from 2018 to 2024,” Shelton said.
Youngkin said he wants the spectrum of elderly care examined and for the board to provide solutions and improvements.
The members include:
Sherrin Alsop, Supervisor, King and Queen County
Peter Anderson, JD, Elder Care Litigation Attorney, Rawls Law Group
Jonathan Cook, President and CEO, LifeSpire of Virginia Senior Living Communities
James Dau, Associate State Director, American Association of Retired Persons
Laura Finch, MS, GNP, RN, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Virginia Commonwealth University Center of Aging
Amanda Gannon, Nursing Home Administrator, Green Tree Healthcare
Candace Gilliam, LPN, Direct Care Provider, August Healthcare
Emily Hardy, JD, Elder Law Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center
Joanna Heiskill, Advocate, Justice and Change for Victims of Nursing Facilities
Carla Hesseltine, Chair, Commonwealth Council in Aging
Chief Baynard Jackson, Fire Chief, Henrico County
Karen Kimsey, Former Director, Department of Medical Assistance Services
Sam Kukich, Executive Director, Dignity for the Aged
Joani Latimer, State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Paige McCleary, Adult Protective Services Division Director, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Cheryl Roberts, JD, Director, Department of Medical Assistance Services
James Sherlock, Retired U.S. Navy Captain
Dr. Karen Shelton, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health
Corie Tillman Wolf, JD, Board of Long-Term Care Administrators Executive Director, Department of Health Professions
Todd Barnes, NHA, MED, Administrator, Department of Veterans Services
(IMAGE: M. Zomer / Pexels)
