Foremost, the Kansas Advocates for Better Care would like to thank the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care for funding the opportunity to produce a consumer guide to long-term care for adults in Kansas. The National Consumer Voice’s mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports. The Kansas Advocates are aligned with this mission as an organization that also advocates for quality long-term care throughout Kansas.
Special thanks to Leah M. Noakes, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America), through Washburn University , Topeka . The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages
Americans to serve their country. The VISTA Project at Washburn University places VISTAs in projects or
communities of need.
Thank you to the Sunflower Foundation and the Milbank Foundation, for providing funding support to compile this guide and outreach to distribute it.
And last, but not least, thank you to the wonderful group of consumers and advocates who served as advisors in the development of this guide. They contributed precious time and expertise in its development. We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals and organizations for their invaluable assistance.
| Angela Deckard, Assistive Technology Consumer | Jeanne Reeder*, Heart of America Alzheimer’s Chapter |
| Angela Drake and Pennie Dubisar-Cross, Cottonwood Community Development Disabilities Organization |
Jim Beckwith*, Retired Northeast Area Agency on Aging |
| Angie Reinking, Social and Rehabilitation Services, KS | Josie Torres, Kansas Health Solutions |
| Annette Graham*, Central Plains Area Agency on Aging | Laurie Pigg, Family Caregiver and Advocate |
| Artie Shaw*, PhD., Clinical Psychologist | Leah M. Noakes, AmeriCorps VISTA |
| Belinda Vierthaler, Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Maia Ruby-Clemmons, Social and Rehabilitation Services, KS |
| Bob Mikesic and Jill Enyart, Independence, Inc., Center for Independent Living |
Marlene Finney*, Retired Social Service Administrator, and Crisis Clinician, Kansas Health Solutions |
| Cathy Harding, Kansas Association of the Medically Underserved |
Matthew Fowler, Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs |
| Chris Owens and Roger Frischenmeyer, Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. |
Molly M. Wood*, Stevens & Brand L.L.P. |
| Craig Knutson, Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas | Nick Wood, Disability Rights Center of Kansas |
| Deb Schwarz, Kansas Department on Aging | Pamela Keller, Social and Rehabilitation Services, KS |
| Doris Weber, LifeCare Planning, Inc. | Rick Cagan, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Kansas |
| Dr. Renee Patrick, Parsons State Hospital and Training Center |
Shannon Jones, Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas |
| Freda Hickam, Long-Term Care Consumer | Sheli Sweeney, Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas |
| Gayle Sigurdson, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority |
Terry Harbert, Retired Social Worker Veterans Administration |
| Janet Dunn*, Retired Military | Terry White, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion |
| Jared Nyagol, Midland PACE, Program of All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly |
Tina Langley, Kansas Department on Aging |
| Jason Schoon, Web Conversion | Walter Rivera, Social and Rehabilitation Services, KS |
| Jean Krahn*, Kansas Guardianship Program |
*Kansas Advocates for Better Care Board Member
