ATLA Award Picture

For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa C. Robertson, LRobertson@ArkTLA.org

Martha Deaver of AANHR Honored by
Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association

LITTLE ROCK – Martha Deaver of Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents was recently honored as the recipient of the 2016 Consumer Merit Award by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) at its 53rd Annual Convention in Eureka Springs. The award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions towards fighting to protect the rights and the liberties of all Arkansas. Martha was chosen for her long-term commitment to protect the rights of nursing home residents.
“I call Martha, the “Woman on Fire.” On fire for Justice, on fire against abuse and neglect, on fire to make sure our loved ones are protected. That fire burns with an intensity as white-hot as any I have ever seen in a human being. You see, Martha knows firsthand, how it feels to lose a loved one due to neglect in a nursing home,” said ATLA President Bob Edwards.

Martha Deaver began her work as an advocate for the rights of nursing home residents in the late 1980’s when her grandmother was a resident of an Arkansas nursing home. She joined The Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents in 1998 and became a member of the board of directors in 2001. In January of 2008 Martha was elected President of The Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents. Martha’s mother and mother-in-law were victims of nursing home abuse.

Her story was chronicled in Ladies Home Journal in a report “It broke my heart that I couldn’t protect my mom.” Since the loss of her mother, she has not stopped. For her efforts, she has been recognized by several groups for her advocacy.

In 2005 Deaver was honored by National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) for her long-term commitment to protect the rights of nursing home residents. She was presented with the Janet Tulloch Memorial Award in Washington, DC.

She is the recipient of the FBI 2010 Community Leadership Award. She was asked to serve in 2015, at the request of Director of AR Department of Veteran’s Affair, Col. Matt Snead, as a committee member with the development of the new Veteran’s nursing home at Fort Roots. Deaver also served on the “2015 Professional Advisory Council” for Alzheimer’s Arkansas. These are only a few of the many awards given to Martha for her advocacy work.

Because of her dedication to protecting the rights of the injured, the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association is proud to award Martha Deaver with this year’s Citizen Merit Award.