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January 3, 2011
Government Report Provides Overview of Assisted Living Facility Residents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new report that states that nineteen percent of US assisted living facility residents receive Medicaid benefits and at least 43% of assisted living facilities have at least one resident that is a Medicaid recipient. The investigation into this part of the long-term care industry was prompted by the lack of hard data about assisted living/residential care facilities. The report, entitled 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities, outlines the number of assisted living facilities in the US, ownership type, facility population, chain affiliation, and the payer type for services.
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CMS Releases Study on Special Focus Facilities
Each month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies nursing facilities that are among the facilities providing the poorest care to their residents, as determined by federal deficiencies cited in the prior three years. These facilities, called Special Focus Facilities (SFFs), receive special attention from state survey agencies – at least two surveys each year (instead of one) and enhanced enforcement activities. While SFFs may not necessarily be the very poorest quality facilities in the country, they are, by definition, among the facilities nationwide that provide the poorest quality of care.
The Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) staff evaluated SFFs identified by CMS on May 16, 2011. Specifically, they looked at all facilities that were newly-added to the SFF list (22 facilities), 20% of facilities that had not improved (14 facilities), and 20% of facilities that had improved, but were still identified as SFFs (11 facilities) – a total of 47 of the 144 facilities (33%) that were currently identified as SFFs. They collected information for each of the 47 SFFs and evaluated the star ratings for health surveys, staffing, and quality measures.
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NORS III & IV Webinars for Ombudsmen
The webinars for State and Local Ombudsmen covering National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS) modules III & IV have been re-scheduled:
Title: NORS Part III- Basic Principles for Verifying Complaints, Coding Complaints Dispositions and Closing a Case
Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Time: 3:00- 4:30 ET
Title: NORS Part IV- Coding Activities
Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Time: 3:00- 4:30 ET
Registration will be limited and we will send registration information in the near future, please save the date!
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Researchers Call Financial Exploitation of Elders an Epidemic
Geriatrician and social scientist Mark Lachs says an epidemic of thefts and fraud targeting the elderly – by lawyers, financial advisers, family members and others – is fast becoming a national crisis. Lachs, along with other leading social scientists, have begun to provide the first credible scientific reports on the extent of fraud and other financial exploitation aimed at the elderly.
“There are millions and millions of people who are affected, and it is enormous in its scope; you go to a dinner, and everyone has a…story,” Lachs says. "If this were a disease, we would probably say it is an epidemic."
The results of Lachs’ survey project that at least 2.5 million people over 60 are victimized. Plus, his tally was likely an undercount- elderly suffering from severe mental decline, a group at high risk of becoming a victim of this kind of exploitation, were not polled.
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About The Gazette
The Gazette is a weekly e-newsletter, published by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, please unsubscribe. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to swells@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2011.
The Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual. The Consumer Voice's mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports.
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