New State Law Mandates Memory Care Training in All Nursing Homes

Memory care training in Massachusetts nursing homes is becoming more stringent for the communities that advertise specialized care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

Under new rules currently being reviewed by state regulators, those who advertise memory care in the state will be required to provide at least eight hours of initial training for care staff and four additional hours per year, according to a Boston Globe report.
Citing an estimated 60% of nursing home residents who have some form of dementia, regulators intend for dementia-specific training to apply to direct-care workers among all nursing homes that are licensed in the state. Those behind the rules studied training for care providers in 16 states, the Globe writes.
Minimum standards for dementia care units have already been set in Massachusetts as of last year, according to the Globe. Part of the push for licensing among all nursing homes, regardless of their specialization in memory care, stems from the fact that some workers care for patients with and without dementia.
“This is a population of [patients] who have historically struggled, and the behaviors related to dementia are challenging,” Dr. Madeleine Biondolillo, director of the state Public Health Department bureau that regulates nursing homes told the Boston Globe. “This gives us the opportunity to put in play the best practices in a very fair way that everybody would be adhering to, and we think it will make a difference in the outcome of these residents.
Nursing homes are supportive of the training regulations, however they have raised concerns about the cost of the additional training hours.
“We estimate that more than 40,000 nursing facility employees will require additional training under these proposed regulations at an annual cost of millions of dollars,” Scott Plumb, senior vice president of Massachusetts Senior Care, told the Globe. “These regulations come at a time when skilled nursing facilities are being underfunded by the state Medicaid program by more than $370 million a year and have not had a rate increase in six years.”
Issues around the training of direct care workers have raised concerns recently, as many senior patients are experiencing higher levels of acuity needs across the spectrum of senior care settings available

Medicaid Use for Nuring home care

An aging population doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in the number of Medicaid beneficiaries, especially for those using the federal program to fund nursing home stays, according to a recent chart from AARP.
Although nursing homes are one of the biggest drivers of Medicaid costs among the older population, notes AARP, use in these care settings has plummeted since 1995 to a figure that currently sits at barely more than 1 million

SNF SKILLED NURING HOME FACILITIES

Starting October 1, hospitals in the bottom quartile for readmissions will get across-the-board reimbursement cuts from Medicare

Skilled nursing facilities should capitalize on their data to become attractive partners to either hospitals in trouble, or well-performing hospitals that want to stay on to,

“SNFs have a very attractive opportunity to step up their game,

The door is wide open for SNFs. For those willing to attack readmissions and position quality benefits, there are attractive reasons to partner with them from a hospital’s standpoint given the real value: great care at a great price.”

, “Advancing Accountable Care,” discussed the longevity of the model.

“The philosophy of accountable care is here to stay,

. “Regardless of the [healthcare reform] law, we will continue to pursue this model.”

“I believe nursing homes are in a unique position to help hospitals stabilize patients after discharge,” Another significant role is short-term rehab, to help those discharge patients attain or maintain the quality of care and help their acute care partner achieve the [required] quality measures.”

It’s important for skilled nursing facilities to demonstrate their value and how they compare to others in terms of quality of care and outcomes,

If SNFs can prove they sustainably have low readmission rates, they can position themselves well with hospitals—which revenue and reputation depend on,

“Embrace the gift of early intelligence: attack readmissions now,

Market your attractive outcomes,

Win census for hospitals, and be well positioned when readmissions-related cuts come to your neighbors caught flat-footed,

The paper’s contents include how skilled nursing facilities compare to other post-acute care providers in terms of hospital readmission rates and costs

;What hospitals are looking for, as described by three major health systems;

What data SNFs will need to be attractively positioned with hospitals at the negotiating tables

Three imperatives for SNFs preparing for meeting with hospitals in an outcomes-driven healthcare world.

The bottom line, “Facts are friends, and you must line them up to win partnerships in the new era of post-acute care.”

Long Term Care Nursing Homes

Over the past decade, nursing home utilization and length of stay have decreased.
Although the number of admissions to and discharges from nursing facilities increased approximately 60% from 1995 to 2002(from 67,000 to over 107,000),10 nursing facility bed availability and average census have decreased, reflecting declining length of stays (See Figure 4.)11
Figure 4: Comparison of Massachusetts Licensed Nursing Facility Beds to Census (All Payers), 1995-2008
LicensedCensusMassHealthEmpty Beds# of nursingfacility beds010000200003000040000500006000020082006200420022001200019971995Source: MassHealth Office of Long-Term Care.
Almost half of all MassHealth nursing facility residents stay less than one year; but 20% have extremely long lengths of stay.
In 2008, 46% of MassHealth lengths of stay were one year or less, while 33% were between 1-4 years and 21% were more than 4 years.12
This distribution skews the average length of stay for MassHealth nursing facility residents, which was 2.41years, or 881days, in 2008. In contrast, the average length of stay for
10 Massachusetts Extended Care Federation (predecessor to the Massachusetts Senior Care Association) (2005). The Changing Face of Long-Term Care. Newton Lower Falls, MA: Author.
11MassHealth Office of Long-Term Care. Boston, MA.
12Ibid.

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A Nursing Home Can Be A Social Place

Article Topic: Nursing Home

Tags: nursing home medical hospitals and clinics

Anytime anyone mentions the term "nursing home" most people don't want to hear about it. Gone are the nursing homes of the past where seniors would go to live out the rest of their years just sitting in a wheelchair. True, there are still some elderly people who need extensive care and may spend their entire day in a bed. The nursing home will give them the care and attention that they need. Many nursing homes offer much more than good medical attention and care. They also offer activities that can be enjoyed to brighten and liven up the daily routine.
Before choosing a nursing home it is important to research the kind of care that is provided. A tour should be offered to be able to see the facility up close. Ask many questions and never take anything for granted. Be observant of the cleanliness of the facility. Find out how many nurse's and nurse's aides are on duty throughout the day. Ask how often the doctor comes in to do a physical. Find out about vision and dental care while at the home. Also, learn how much the room will be and how it can be handled financially.
Nursing homes are very expensive and most people don't have the money that can pay for a permanent stay. However, there is financial help that each state handles individually. Find out what help is available and have someone at the home assist with any type of paperwork that needs to be done.
A very important question to ask is if the nursing home has regular activities. There could be card games, bingo, virtual bowling, arts and crafts, trivia, and many other fun things to do. A great nursing home will have regular entertainment come in to play and sing many of the songs that were popular in the youth of the residents. Holidays and birthdays should be celebrated with a festive excitement. With all of this going on, there will be less depression and more acceptance of living at the nursing home.

Getting in your own Neighborhood

Mystic Valley Elder Services is committed to helping elders and adults with disabilities find what they need to live the way they want. Communities are stronger and more vibrant when everyone has the supports and resources they need to participate fully. Your support of Mystic Valley Elder Services makes communities better, makes lives fuller, and returns the control and dignity of independence to the hands of elders and adults with disabilities. Your support makes the world a better place. For all of us.
If you or a person you love wishes to return to an independent life at home, call Mystic Valley Elder Services at 781-324-7705. A care advisor will schedule a time to meet at the nursing facility to discuss community living options.

nursing facilities’ revenues

Research also shows that nursing facilities are much more reliant on government funding compared to physicians. More than half of nursing facilities’ revenues, at 53.2%, are from Medicare and Medicaid, compared to 30.2% of physicians’ revenues, with the remainder coming from private sources.
Labor accounts for about 70% of a facilities’ costs, and when Medicare and Medicaid reduce payments, it often forces facilities to reduce staffing, and this can result in a lower quality of care, according to research cited in the Alliance report.