2018 Update to Dementia Care Practice Recommendations

According to 2017 statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, with a significant percentage of these individuals requiring community support in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility. In an effort to enhance the quality of care, the Alzheimer’s Association recently updated its dementia care practice recommendations. Person-centered care serves as the cornerstone of the 2018 Dementia Care Practice Recommendations.
With the recent implementation of Phase II of the Mega Rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has increased regulatory scrutiny of the care and services being provided to these individuals. Many nursing facility residents have some form of dementia, so CMS has put in place specific provisions to improve their care. In its 2016 revision of the rules governing long-term care facilities, CMS now requires that long-term care providers assess their facilities, their populations, and the workforce necessary to meet the increasingly diverse needs of residents.  
With these regulatory changes, please take time to review the dementia care services provided by your organization.  Reach out to an AssuredPartners Senior Living Risk Solutions expert for assistance to ensure your team is ready.
Sources: Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations; Alzheimer’s Association 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures; and Thornhill, L., JD and Conant, R., Improving Care Through Public Policy, Gerontologist, 2018, Vol. 58, No. S1, S141–S147 doi:10.1093/geront/gnx181