October 29, 2013

Consmer Voice Supports AMDA's Post-Acute/Long-Term Care Attending Physician Competencies

Consumer Voice has joined various other national organizations in signing on to support post- acute/long-term care (PA/LTC) attending physician competencies developed by AMDA—Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine (AMDA). AMDA recently finalized these competencies, which are designed to provide attending physicians with an evidence-based framework for the unique set of knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate quality outcomes in this setting. Consumer Voice has agreed to support AMDA’s work with the competencies, including the development of an educational training curriculum. The competencies address five areas: foundation (ethics, professionalism, and communication), medical care delivery process, systems, medical knowledge, and personal quality assurance and performance improvement. To date, in addition to Consumer Voice, several other organizations have signed on with formal support.  These include: Advancing Excellence, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Home Care Physicians, American College of Healthcare Administrators, American Health Care Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, Leading Age, and National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration.

Back to Top

CMS Memorandum States that Facilities Can Not Establish Facility-Wide CPR Policies

CMS issued a memorandum stating that nursing homes will face survey citations for facility-wide policies that prohibit cardiopulmonary resucitation for residents.  Research has shown that CPR is not very effective in the elderly nursing home population, and some facilities have put in place general no-CPR policies, but this does not comply with federal regulations that guarantee the right of residents to formulate advance directives.  Nursing homes are prohibited from establishing these policies.  For more information, read the article in McKnight's and read the memorandum from CMS.

Back to Top

AMDA Calls For Reconsideration of Polices on Sex Among Residents with Dementia

After Bloomberg News published articles exposing the issues and consequences of sex between individuals with dementia in US facilities, AMDA called on homes to reconsider their policies (or lack of policies) regarding geriatric sex. AMDA conducted a survey of physicians and other medical professionals who work with the elderly and found that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are widely unprepared to deal with sex among residents with dementia.  "There is a growing need for change in policies and institutional practices focused on intimacy and sexual behavior," AMDA said.  For more information, read the article in Bloomberg News.

Back to Top

Webinar on the "Got an Hour? Give it Back" Campaign

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 12:00pm ET: "Got an Hour? Give it Back" Campaign

This is the second session of a two-part series sponsored by the Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative.  The “Got an Hour? Give it Back” Campaign was created to encourage community members to volunteer within the aging network.  This webinar will offer strategies to help build an organization’s volunteer base and to strengthen the involvement of current volunteers.  Register here.

Back to Top

About The Gazette