Category: News

Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories

March is Women’s History Month, and celebrates the vital role of women in American history. Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed a bill which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields. Learn more about Women’s History Month and this year’s theme at nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org.

Other notable celebrations in the month of March include…

-Irish American Heritage Month

-National Nutrition Month

-National Kidney Month

-National Optimism Month

“March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.”

Learn more about the history of previous months here.

OHA Announces End to Universal Masking Requirement in Health Care Settings, Effective April 3

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced today that it will end its universal masking requirement for health care settings, which includes all licensed long term care settings, on April 3. Oregon’s policy change will occur in concert with similar changes in other states, including Washington.  It is expected that masking will still be required during specified outbreaks. Detailed guidance will be determined by OHA and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and will be shared soon. Visit the Oregon Health Care Association website for all updates. OHCA has advocated on behalf of members with the Governor’s office, OHA, and ODHS to move away from universal masking policies. Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction for providers, caregivers, residents, and their families as we move away from pandemic-era policies and restrictions. OHCA is continuing conversations with state regulators regarding modifications to other COVID-19 protocols. We will keep members informed of any updates. Please note, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) still expects nursing facilities to follow core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention including guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Per QSO-20-39-NH, everyone in a nursing facility should wear face coverings or masks if the nursing facility’s county COVID-19 community transmission is high. If the nursing facility’s county COVID-19 community transmission is not high and there is no outbreak, the facility’s policies on masking should be based on recommendations from the CDC, state, and local health departments as well as the individual facility’s circumstances. It is important to remember CDC’s community transmission level is the metric used by CDC to guide health care settings, not CDC’s COVID-19 community level. A facility choosing to set their own mask policies should continue to take into account the need to accommodate medical and religious exemptions. Stay up to date on all health care news and CareAvailability growth by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

“Black Resistance” in 2023

February is African-American History Month and celebrates the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that are an indelible part of our country’s history. February was chosen primarily because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln was influential in the emancipation of slaves, and Douglass, a former slave, was a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery. This year’s African American History Month theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, since the nation’s earliest days. Read more about the history of this theme and African American History month at asalh.org.

Other notable celebrations in the month of February include…

Valentine’s Day, February 14th

President’s Day, February 20th

Mardi Gras, February 21st

The name February is from the Latin word Februa, “to cleanse.” The Roman calendar month of Februarius was named for Februalia, a festival of purification and atonement that took place during this period.

Learn more about the history of previous months here.

Saving lives one drop at a time…

In 1969, a proclamation was signed designating January as National Blood Donor Month, a time to recognize and spread awareness of the need for blood and platelets. National Blood Donor Month (NBDM) also celebrates the lifesaving impact of those who regularly donate, and encourages new donors to give blood as a New Year’s Resolution. This year, America’s Blood Centers, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies, and the American Red Cross are joining together to thank America’s more than 7 million blood donors. The winter months are one of the most difficult times to collect lifesaving blood, so make it your resolution to schedule a donation appointment! Make an appointment here https://www.redcrossblood.org/

Other notable celebrations in the month of January include…

• Glaucoma Awareness Month
• CervicalHealth Awareness Month
• Self-Love Month
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 3rd Monday in January
• Chinese New Year – January 22, 2023

“January is named after the Roman god, Janus. He had two faces so he could see the future and the past.”

Learn more about the history of previous months here.

CareAvailability site expands into Alabama to help families navigate care and senior housing options.

CareAvailability is proud to announce its expansion into Alabama, further establishing its real-time availability of senior housing options in the south. This is a new industry standard, delivering an easy one stop option for families and caregivers to navigate all levels of senior care. CareAvailability provides the real-time reporting of availability for senior care up to the minute at provider locations.

The site first launched in Oregon during the COVID pandemic as an effort to help hospitals find care for patients needing to transition out of beds. The site is expanding quickly to bring availability to everyone in the United States. This free resource lists every provider in searchable areas on the site and allows providers to report their availability for free. Families and caregivers can also use the site free of cost to find available levels of care at any time and with no need to provide personal details, championing Family and Patient Freedom of Choice like never before. 

Senior advocates and health professionals rely on CareAvailability to manage comprehensive lists of care options that they can easily monitor and check for active options at their leisure. Families can easily navigate through different levels of care and find available options that they can claim or call as they please. Rather than care providers needing to manage multiple sites at cost, CareAvailability is an extensive resource that does not charge hospitals, physicians, health clinics, social workers or any health team for their services. Medicare Ratings are also included to support Patient Freedom of Choice. 

“We wanted to create a comprehensive database for families and caregivers to easily connect with providers without endless phone calls and uncertainty of available rooms,” CareAvailability’s CEO, Amy Schmidt, says. “We saw the need for this kind of resource during the heart of the pandemic as caregivers tried to discharge patients, and now moving forward this reliable database exists for effective efficiency.” 

Determining the right level of care can be an exhausting process, as many states have different terminology and standards for varying levels of care. The team at CareAvailability has taken extra steps to provide educational articles as well as links to state agencies to help families better understand Long Term Care and aging.

CareAvailability’s expansion to Alabama means an additional 750 providers are now listed in the database of resources. This includes more than: 190 assisted living communities, 100 memory care communities, 230 skilled nursing facilities, and over 300 home health and hospice agencies.

Fun Facts about Alabama

Alabama has been called the “Yellowhammer State” since the Civil War, when a troop of Alabama soldiers wore uniforms trimmed with yellow cloth and were nicknamed “Yellowhammers.” Other familiar nicknames for Alabama include “The Cotton State” and “The Heart of Dixie.” Famed country singer Hank Williams was born in Mount Olive, AL, and a life-size bronze statue of him was erected in Montgomery, AL.

Alabama was the 22nd state to be admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. Their state motto is “Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere,” meaning “We Dare Defend our Rights.”

About Care Availability

CareAvailability is a website dedicated to helping seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals find care in real time. Specific questions can be directed to the CareAvailability Team’s contact page or connect with them on Facebook.  

CareAvailability site expands into Iowa to help families navigate care and senior housing options.

CareAvailability is proud to announce its expansion into Iowa, further establishing its real-time availability of senior housing options in the midwest. This is a new industry standard, delivering an easy one stop option for families and caregivers to navigate all levels of senior care. CareAvailability provides the real-time reporting of availability for senior care up to the minute at provider locations.

The site first launched in Oregon during the COVID pandemic as an effort to help hospitals find care for patients needing to transition out of beds. The site is expanding quickly to bring availability to everyone in the United States. This free resource lists every provider in searchable areas on the site and allows providers to report their availability for free. Families and caregivers can also use the site free of cost to find available levels of care at any time and with no need to provide personal details, championing Family and Patient Freedom of Choice like never before. 

Senior advocates and health professionals rely on CareAvailability to manage comprehensive lists of care options that they can easily monitor and check for active options at their leisure. Families can easily navigate through different levels of care and find available options that they can claim or call as they please. Rather than care providers needing to manage multiple sites at cost, CareAvailability is an extensive resource that does not charge hospitals, physicians, health clinics, social workers or any health team for their services. Medicare Ratings are also included to support Patient Freedom of Choice. 

“We wanted to create a comprehensive database for families and caregivers to easily connect with providers without endless phone calls and uncertainty of available rooms,” CareAvailability’s CEO, Amy Schmidt, says. “We saw the need for this kind of resource during the heart of the pandemic as caregivers tried to discharge patients, and now moving forward this reliable database exists for effective efficiency.” 

Determining the right level of care can be an exhausting process, as many states have different terminology and standards for varying levels of care. The team at CareAvailability has taken extra steps to provide educational articles as well as links to state agencies to help families better understand Long Term Care and aging.

CareAvailability’s expansion to Iowa means an additional 900 providers are now listed in the database of resources. This includes more than: 260 assisted living communities, 200 skilled nursing facilities, 160 memory care communities, and over 180 home health, home care, and hospice agencies.

Fun Facts about Iowa

Iowa is known as “The Hawkeye State” as a tribute to chief Black Hawk, leader of the native American Sauk tribe. The name “Iowa” comes from the American Indian tribe of the same name. Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers; the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east.

Iowa was the 29th state to join the union on December 28, 1846. The state motto is “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain.”

About Care Availability

CareAvailability is a website dedicated to helping seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals find care in real time. Specific questions can be directed to the CareAvailability Team’s contact page or connect with them on Facebook.  

CareAvailability site expands into Massachusetts to help families navigate care and senior housing options.

CareAvailability is proud to announce its expansion into Massachusetts, further establishing its real-time availability of senior housing options in the north east. This is a new industry standard, delivering an easy one stop option for families and caregivers to navigate all levels of senior care. CareAvailability provides the real-time reporting of availability for senior care up to the minute at provider locations.

The site first launched in Oregon during the COVID pandemic as an effort to help hospitals find care for patients needing to transition out of beds. The site is expanding quickly to bring availability to everyone in the United States. This free resource lists every provider in searchable areas on the site and allows providers to report their availability for free. Families and caregivers can also use the site free of cost to find available levels of care at any time and with no need to provide personal details, championing Family and Patient Freedom of Choice like never before. 

Senior advocates and health professionals rely on CareAvailability to manage comprehensive lists of care options that they can easily monitor and check for active options at their leisure. Families can easily navigate through different levels of care and find available options that they can claim or call as they please. Rather than care providers needing to manage multiple sites at cost, CareAvailability is an extensive resource that does not charge hospitals, physicians, health clinics, social workers or any health team for their services. Medicare Ratings are also included to support Patient Freedom of Choice. 

“We wanted to create a comprehensive database for families and caregivers to easily connect with providers without endless phone calls and uncertainty of available rooms,” CareAvailability’s CEO, Amy Schmidt, says. “We saw the need for this kind of resource during the heart of the pandemic as caregivers tried to discharge patients, and now moving forward this reliable database exists for effective efficiency.” 

Determining the right level of care can be an exhausting process, as many states have different terminology and standards for varying levels of care. The team at CareAvailability has taken extra steps to provide educational articles as well as links to state agencies to help families better understand Long Term Care and aging.

CareAvailability’s expansion to Massachusetts means an additional 1,090 providers are now listed in our database of resources. This includes more than: 120 assisted living communities, 300 skilled nursing facilities, and over 670 home health, home care, and hospice agencies.

Fun Facts about Massachusetts

Massachusetts is known as “The Bay State”, referring to Cape Cod Bay where the Pilgrims first settled. Massachusetts is home to a countless number of tourist attractions, including the Boston Tea Party Museum, Martha’s Vineyard, Fenway Park, and Boston Common Park, pictured above.

Massachusetts was the 6th state to join the new independent union in 1788. It was the first state to write and adopt a constitution, which then served as a model for the new U.S. Constitution. The state motto is “Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem” meaning “By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty.”

About Care Availability

CareAvailability is a website dedicated to helping seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals find care in real time. Specific questions can be directed to the CareAvailability Team’s contact page or connect with them on Facebook.

Human Rights, how we can stand up for justice.

The month of December is known as International Human Rights Awareness Month. 2022 will be the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international document stating the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. This month we are encouraged to come together and stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all humans. Spread the word about the importance of treating everyone around us with respect and kindness no matter their age, gender, race, political views, or social status. Read more about how you can get involved in this year’s campaign for Human Rights.

Other notable celebrations in the month of December include…

• Christmas, December 25th
• Hanukkah, begins December 18th
• Kwanzaa, begins December 26th

December got its name from the Latin word “decem” meaning “ten” because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the Roman calendar.

Learn more about the history of previous months here.

CareAvailability site expands into Maryland to help families navigate care and senior housing options.

CareAvailability is proud to announce its expansion into Maryland, further establishing its real-time availability of senior housing options along the eastern seaboard. This is a new industry standard, delivering an easy one stop option for families and caregivers to navigate all levels of senior care. CareAvailability provides the real-time reporting of availability for senior care up to the minute at provider locations.

The site first launched in Oregon during the COVID pandemic as an effort to help hospitals find care for patients needing to transition out of beds. The site is expanding quickly to bring availability to everyone in the United States. This free resource lists every provider in searchable areas on the site and allows providers to report their availability for free. Families and caregivers can also use the site free of cost to find available levels of care at any time and with no need to provide personal details, championing Family and Patient Freedom of Choice like never before. 

Senior advocates and health professionals rely on CareAvailability to manage comprehensive lists of care options that they can easily monitor and check for active options at their leisure. Families can easily navigate through different levels of care and find available options that they can claim or call as they please. Rather than care providers needing to manage multiple sites at cost, CareAvailability is an extensive resource that does not charge hospitals, physicians, health clinics, social workers or any health team for their services. Medicare Ratings are also included to support Patient Freedom of Choice. 

“We wanted to create a comprehensive database for families and caregivers to easily connect with providers without endless phone calls and uncertainty of available rooms,” CareAvailability’s CEO, Amy Schmidt, says. “We saw the need for this kind of resource during the heart of the pandemic as caregivers tried to discharge patients, and now moving forward this reliable database exists for effective efficiency.” 

Determining the right level of care can be an exhausting process, as many states have different terminology and standards for varying levels of care. The team at CareAvailability has taken extra steps to provide educational articles as well as links to state agencies to help families better understand Long Term Care and aging.

CareAvailability’s expansion to Maryland means an additional 3,300 providers are now listed in our database of resources. This includes more than: 1,600 assisted living communities, 220 skilled nursing facilities, 80 memory care communities, and over 1,400 home health and hospice agencies.

Fun Facts about Maryland

Maryland is known as both the Old Line State and the Free State. George Washington bestowed the name “The Old Line State”, referring to the Maryland line troops, who served in many Revolutionary War battles. Maryland was first recognized as “The Free State” in 1864, when the Maryland Constitution of 1864 took effect, which abolished slavery within the state’s borders.

The state motto of Maryland is “Fatti Maschii Parole Femine” which loosely translates to “Strong Deeds, Gentle Words,” and is the only state with a motto in Italian. Maryland was the seventh state admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788.

About CareAvailability

CareAvailability is a website dedicated to helping seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals find care in real time. Specific questions can be directed to the CareAvailability Team’s contact page or connect with them on Facebook. 

CareAvailability site expands into Virginia to help families navigate care and senior housing options.

CareAvailability is proud to announce its expansion into Virginia, further establishing its real-time availability of senior housing options in the eastern part of the United States. This is a new industry standard, delivering an easy one stop option for families and caregivers to navigate all levels of senior care. CareAvailability provides the real-time reporting of availability for senior care up to the minute at provider locations.

The site first launched in Oregon during the COVID pandemic as an effort to help hospitals find care for patients needing to transition out of beds. The site is expanding quickly to bring availability to everyone in the United States. This free resource lists every provider in searchable areas on the site and allows providers to report their availability for free. Families and caregivers can also use the site free of cost to find available levels of care at any time and with no need to provide personal details, championing Family and Patient Freedom of Choice like never before.

Senior advocates and health professionals rely on CareAvailability to manage comprehensive lists of care options that they can easily monitor and check for active options at their leisure. Families can easily navigate through different levels of care and find available options that they can claim or call as they please. Rather than care providers needing to manage multiple sites at cost, CareAvailability is an extensive resource that does not charge hospitals, physicians, health clinics, social workers or any health team for their services. Medicare Ratings are also included to support Patient Freedom of Choice.

“We wanted to create a comprehensive database for families and caregivers to easily connect with providers without endless phone calls and uncertainty of available rooms,” CareAvailability’s CEO, Amy Schmidt, says. “We saw the need for this kind of resource during the heart of the pandemic as caregivers tried to discharge patients, and now moving forward this reliable database exists for effective efficiency.”

Determining the right level of care can be an exhausting process, as many states have different terminology and standards for varying levels of care. The team at CareAvailability has taken extra steps to provide educational articles as well as links to state agencies to help families better understand Long Term Care and aging.

CareAvailability’s expansion to Virginia means an additional 2,700 providers are now listed in our database of resources. This includes more than: 570 assisted living communities, 280 skilled nursing facilities, and over 1,960 home health, home care, and hospice agencies.

Fun Facts about Virginia

Virginia is known as the Old Dominion State because of the loyalty of Virginia to the Royalist cause during the English Civil War and afterward during the English Commonwealth. Virginia is home to countless tourist attractions including Arlington National Cemetery, Shenandoah National Park, Thomas Jefferson’s plantation home, “Monticello”, and George Washington’s estate, “Mount Vernon”.

Virginia was the 10th state to join the Union in 1788. The state motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis”, or “Thus Always to Tyrants.”

About CareAvailability

CareAvailability is a website dedicated to helping seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals find care in real time. Specific questions can be directed to the CareAvailability Team’s contact page or connect with them on Facebook.