Missouri Coalition for Quality Care

The Missouri Coalition for Quality Care (MCQC) is an organization working for the rights and protection of the elderly and the disabled. It offers many resources for people who care about someone living in a nursing home – or someone receiving in-home care – that feel frustrated or confused about long term care services. Founded in 1987, MCQC now has a membership of over 700. Although the majority of the coalition members are Missourians, a portion of the members are from other states. They joined MCQC because of their concerns and interests in improving the quality of care and life for nursing home residents and recipients of in-home health care services.

MCQC maintains an informative website full of resources regarding long-term care issues. One particularly important part of their website is the page on “Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline Calls.” The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) is required by law to maintain an Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline, which can be reached toll-free at 1-800-392-0210. Any member of the general public can use this hotline. Anyone who has witnessed or suspects the abuse or neglect of an elderly or disabled individual is asked to report the incident to the State by using this hotline number. MDHSS employees will personally respond to the phone calls and are required to gather as much information about the abuse or neglect as possible from the caller. They will ask for the caller’s name; however, the choice to remain anonymous is acceptable. Phone calls are then evaluated and prioritized based upon their perceived severity. It is because of this hotline that many of the suspected abuse incidents in the state of Missouri have been investigated and resolved.

Missouri Coalition for Quality Care needs as many members as possible to bring about change. Click here to visit the “Become a Member” page. There is a membership form to complete, available at the website, and there is also a lifetime membership fee. For joining MCQC, you will receive a membership card, a letter welcoming you as a member, the most recent MCQC newsletter and all future newsletters, the MCQC brochure, information on issues concerning eldercare and the disabled, and you will also be part of an important organization working for the rights and protection of the disabled and elderly.

* All of MCQC’s resources are available at no charge on their website.