COVID-19 Related Topics
Finding Meaning in Your Chosen Profession Reduces Burnout and Improves Job Satisfaction
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of people worldwide have found themselves staying…
Coping with Pandemic in Nursing Homes – Part 4
Beginning Thursday, May 14, facilities must make daily reports to the CDPH that include the…
Coping with Pandemic in Nursing Homes – Part 3
We are now at week six of shelter-in-place orders. The crisis is no longer new…
Tips for Healthcare Staff- Honoring Patients through Deeper Conversations
Five weeks of shelter-in-place orders for COVID-19 are taking their toll. The isolation from family…
Coping with Pandemic in Nursing Homes – Part 1
As a nursing home first responder, do you feel like the entire world has been…
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Care Requirement is Here!
While we don’t know exactly how the surveyors will assess compliance with the Trauma-Informed Care…
The Purpose of Screening and Assessing for Trauma in Nursing Home Residents
The Mega Rule 3 requirement for trauma-informed care goes into effect November 28, 2019. This…
Older People and Trauma Informed Care
Over the course of lives, many older people have experienced one or more potentially traumatic…
Trauma- Informed Care Requirement Not “On Hold” – Are you ready?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not proposed to delay implementation of Phase…
The Four R’s of Trauma-Informed Care
In the United States, 61 percent of men and 51 percent of women report exposure…
Regulation Trainings and Information
Final Judgment Issued on the Epple Bill
Skilled nursing facilities must take the following steps to comply. Nursing homes now must provide…
PDPM is here! Do You Know how it Impacts on Social Services?
PDPM assures that the Resident Care Plan is patient-centered with a focus on early intervention, patient involvement and…
Final Rule Allows Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule on Long-Term Care…
Partial Delay in Rollout of Phase 3
On July 16, 2019 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed…
California Homeless Discharge Regulation
On January 1, 2019, California’s SB 1152 went into effect. This law requires hospitals to…
Informed Consent in Long-term Care Facilities
Residents in long-term care facilities often have conditions that require treatment with psychotropic medications. Informed…
Survey Issues
Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide
What is it? The purpose of the Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide is to help surveyors…
Surveyor Guidance on Phase 3 Requirements of Participation to be Released Next Year
Phase 3 Regulations went live on 11/28/2019. However, it will be several months before CMS…
Are You Prepared for Your Next Survey? These Are Not Your Usual Surveys!
Our Consultants in California have provided the following information regarding recent facility surveys Surveyors: 6…
Deficiency Scores Reduced Twice As Much With Social Service Staff
A recent Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center study shed light on the impact of social…
Resident Rights
Are You Prepared to Provide Culturally Competent Psychosocial Care?
Do you know what is cultural competency is? The Mega Rule 3 requirement for Trauma-informed…
Five Categories of Resident’s Rights
Resident rights is the largest section of the Mega Rule. It guides the facility on providing…
Informed Consent in Long-term Care Facilities
Residents in long-term care facilities often have conditions that require treatment with psychotropic medications. Informed…
The 6 Reasons for a Resident Discharge or Transfer
Social services are required to be part of a facility-initiated discharge or transfer (see F-Tag…
Understanding Pain in the Nursing Home Resident: An essential psychosocial issue
Persistent pain is an unfortunate reality for many nursing home residents. Compared to young to…
Theft and Loss Regulation Simplified and Direct
Theft is an unfortunate reality in many nursing homes. Nursing home residents are often the…
Behavior, Dementia, and Psychotropic Medications
10 Tips for Dealing with Manipulative Residents
1. Define clear expectations Many residents cannot cognitively process or remember what we have told…
Understanding Pain in the Nursing Home Resident: An essential psychosocial issue
Persistent pain is an unfortunate reality for many nursing home residents. Compared to young to…
Understanding the Behavior of Residents with Dementia
The Alzheimer’s Association defines dementia as “a general term for a decline in mental ability…
Understanding Why Difficult Behaviors Occur: Problem-Solving Strategies
Downloadable Version There are a number of behavior problems that sometimes accompany Alzheimer’s disease and…
The Seven R’s of Behavior Management
Downloadable Version Reassess: Is there a physical problem, UTI, constipation, pain, etc.? Reconsider: Is the…