1985-1989
1985
The Vision begins - Steering Committee formed.
1986
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation awards start up grant.
1987
Office opens in Winston-Salem.
Penalty Review Committee established.
Legislation passed to strengthen penalty laws.
OBRA ’87 passes, Friends of Residents testifies on Capitol Hill.
Friends of Residents forms and facilitates the Long Term Care Coalition.
Vickie Turner became the first Executive Director.
Laurel Boyles became the first Board Chair.
1988
Friends of Residents’ office moved to Raleigh.
Linda Bedo became Executive Director.
1989
Domiciliary Care Task Force Report.
1990-1995
1990
First Resident’s Rights Celebration.
1992
Marlene Chasson, Executive Director of Friends of Residents served on the state’s Rules Review Committee for Adult Care Homes and Family Care Homes. Working with other advocates, Friends of Residents was successful in initiating a state regulation for restraint use in these homes.
1993
Friends of Residents works for passage of temporary management legislation.
Duke University Long Term Care Resources Program funds special projects.
1994
The Executive Director of Friends of Residents began serving on the North Carolina Domiciliary Care Steering Team. After two years of meetings, some of the team’s recommendations were included in legislation that required staff training and audited cost reports for these homes.
1995
Listed in the September, 1995 issue of Consumer Reports as a source of help for “families who may face problems finding a nursing home for an infirm loved one.”
Friends of Residents in involved in successful advocacy efforts to save the Ombudsman Program.
1996-1999
1996
The Executive Director of Friends of Residents co-chaired the Governor’s Ad Hoc Committee on Nursing Homes and Rest Homes, which was formed following the death of eight rest home residents in a fire.
Minority Report of the Ad Hoc Committee is delivered to Governor Hunt by Bette Ivester and Pam Southerland.
1997
Co-sponsored a workshop with the Triangle Area Agency on Aging for personal care aides and family members of long term care residents to promote understanding and cooperation between the two groups.
Worked with a reporter from The Independent (a weekly newspaper published in the Triangle area) on a three-part series that described problems encountered by residents and family members in adult care homes and the political aspects of these care problems. The series titled Gray Gold is responsible for bringing attention to long term care issues.
1998
Worked with legislators, regional long term care ombudsmen, and other advocacy groups, resulting in legislation that changed the staffing ratio in adult care homes on the third shift (the first change in 30 years).
Assisted a reporter from the Triangle newspaper, The News and Observer, in obtaining information for a series of articles entitled, “A State of Neglect.” Following these articles, legislation was introduced proposing major reforms in adult care homes. Friends of Residents worked with legislators to assure the passage of this bill.
1999
Sponsored a forum featuring State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr., who reviewed his Performance Audit on Long Term Care Programs in North Carolina for legislators and state and county officials.
First Bi-annual Long Term Care Advocacy Day at the General Assembly, sponsored by Representative Beverly Earle. This was the first long term care event of this kind to be held at the NC General Assembly.
In cooperation with AARP, Friends of Residents published Making Informed Choices, a brochure to help older adults and family members make decisions about assisted living facilities in North Carolina.
Established a website containing information on penalties, special events, and long term care legislation.
Friends of Residents works with Ombudsman and others to assure passage of land mark legislation commonly referred to as Senate Bill 10, Long Term Care Safely Initiative.