According to McKnight’s Long Term News, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued new
guidance for nursing home surveyors emphasizing the importance of
resident quality of life and homelike environments.
Nursing home surveys conducted after June 12 will include a heightened
focus on areas such as care and service choices, creating a homelike
environment, resident dignity and accommodating environmental needs and
preferences, according to CMS. This new guidance is intended to support
current efforts to create more homelike nursing facilities and focus on
resident-centered care.
CMS also seeks to deinstitutionalize nursing homes through the removal
of certain technology and mechanisms associated with institutional
environments. Overhead paging systems, alarms and large nursing
stations, as well as meals served on institutional trays should be
eliminated, according to the guidance. Facilities should also pay close
attention to a resident’s preference for his or her own daily schedule,
CMS says.For more, read the story.
More information about the new guidance can be found online at http://nursing-home-neglect.com/app/uploads/2020/05/R48SOMA.pdf.
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Robert W. Carter, Jr. is a Virginia attorney whose law practice is
dedicated to protecting the rights of the victims of nursing
home and assisted living neglect and abuse in Richmond, Roanoke,
Norfolk, Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville, and across Virginia.
