This is a guest post by Noel Mendez of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Direct Care Workers Association
from left: Chris Langston, Margaret Bernger, Brenda Natchway and Noel Mendez
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Direct Care Workers Association continued to make strides by hosting another successful membership meeting and participating in the Long Term Quality Alliance annual meeting. On Friday 25, Brenda Nachtway, National Membership Director for the Direct Care Alliance, accompanied PADCWA members Peg Ankney, Margaret Beringer and myself to Washington, DC, where we attended the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the Long-Term Quality Alliance. This event was held at the National Press Club where we met with Leonila Vega, Executive Director of the DCA. Throughout the day we listened to industry and government leaders talk about issues that affect direct care workers and those in our care.
Mary Naylor of the University of Pennsylvania gave the welcome address and talked about quality measurement, tangible improvements in care, and advancing policies that lead to improved care, among other important issues. Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, focused on government policy, budgetary provisions and outlined features of the CLASS Act. Topics covered by other speakers included the Affordable Care Act, dual eligibles, quality measurement, outreach and public awareness.
