Your Elected Officials Need to Hear from You!
Congress has many challenges
and it
is as necessary for the voice of long term care to be heard. Members of
Congress value their constituents’ opinions and it is critical that we
offer them the opportunity to
hear first-hand the quality care that we provide.
Due
to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the way we interact with Members of
Congress and their staff has drastically changed. Instead
of meeting in person, virtual platforms such as Zoom and WebEx, have
become the normal for meetings.
Now more than ever, Members of Congress and their staff need to hear from you. Each facility has been affected differently, and
your story needs to be heard.
AHCA/NCAL staff stands ready to help you engage with your Members and provide you with valuable resources. Please contact
Matt Smyth for additional details and materials.
Host a Facility or Community Tour
Facility/Community tours play a critical role in the
American Health Care Association’s educational and legislative efforts.
They enable policy makers to see firsthand the issues that affect our
industry, and most importantly, they see how their
constituents are impacted by what they decide in Washington, the state
house, or city council. As a result, facility tours have proven to be
one of the long term care industry’s best grassroots lobbying tools. The
process is the same for any elected official
and is very easy. Check out the resources in the Advocate Toolkit for additional information on how to host a facility or community tour.
Attend a Town Hall Meeting
Congress
has numerous breaks so elected officials can get back to their
districts and spend time with their constituents. During these recesses,
they schedule various public events, including
town halls. The best way to influence your elected official is with
face-to-face conversations. Town halls are one of the ways to have such a
conversation. They are a great place to connect policy to the actual
effect they can have on us personally. It’s
important for both your elected official and the community at large to
hear these stories.
Check out the resources in the Advocate Toolkit for additional information on attending a town hall meeting.