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11 <br /> What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the <br /> upcoming year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' <br /> attention? <br /> THESE ARE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD EVERY YEAR, and for 2021 they will be even <br /> more critical: <br /> 1/ We will continue our efforts at raising the regulatory expectations for our long-term <br /> care facilities. For example, there are still no handicap accessible door requirements nor <br /> resident to staff ratios. <br /> 2/ We remain concerned about the neglected conditions of many of our Orange County <br /> LTC buildings. We routinely find no emergency power generators, resulting in such <br /> dangerous behavior as residents having to be carried down from upper floors when the <br /> power is out and elevators not working. There also continue to be reports of foul odors <br /> of urine, mold and strong cleaning products in halls and rooms of residents, and <br /> complaints about food, with some residents reporting food shortages if they are last to <br /> be fed (with sandwiches substituted for dinner). <br /> 3/ We continue to believe local leaders remain apathetic about improving the living <br /> conditions for our poorer elderly residents in Orange County long-term care homes. <br /> 4/ We hope to find that the Department on Aging's Master Plan will include projects <br /> related to our long-term care facilities. <br /> 5/ Though we have mentioned it in the past, there continues to be an absence of <br /> incentives for providers to improve their quality of care. We would particularly appreciate <br /> having our Board of Commissions partner with us to explore ways to incentivize <br /> particularly those companies serving residents on Medicaid. <br />