advertisement


"Providing the best value & selection in vehicle to meet the needs of Nursing Care Centers - 800-821-5451"

Good Samaritans Take to the Hill
Last week, 45 representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society visited Washington for their regional meetings and used the occasion to discuss issues of concern with their congressional representatives. The attendees visited 39 legislative offices and met with staff members from the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, and the Special Committee on Aging. The Good Samaritans got our grassroots advocacy off to a great start this year, but we need your help to keep that momentum going. Please consider scheduling a visit with your legislators on April 1 during our Future of Aging Services Conference. Contact: Louise Maus, (202) 508-9487.


Registration Re-Opened for the MDS 3.0 Special Open Door Forum
As a result of high demand for participation in the Minimum Data Set 3.0 Special Open Door Forum, on Jan. 24 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has added lines to accommodate as many telephone participants as possible. If you haven’t had the opportunity to register, now is your chance. To register, go to the website at registration.intercall.com. Registration is required and will close at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 23. The Special Open Door Forum will report the findings from a five-year CMS Nursing Home Minimum Data Set 3.0 Validation study. Contact: Karyn Downie (202) 508-9410. See the latest MDS 3.0 Draft, Introduction and MDS 3.0 Implementation Timeline

Your Expertise Needed for Diabetes Management Guideline
The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) has asked us to review and comment on the draft Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG): Diabetes Management in the Long Term Care Setting. If you or your staff members have an interest or expertise in this topic, and would like to participate in reviewing this CPG, you may track changes directly on the draft. Please forward your comments to AMDA’s Jackie Vance or AAHSA’s Evvie Munley by Jan. 29. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.
| Read the draft CPG. |


Speakers Offer Solutions at Upcoming AAHSA Conference
Our Future of Aging Services Conference, March 31 - April 2, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., brings together experts that can help you find solutions to your workforce challenges. These experts include Ann Rhoades, former Executive Vice president of JetBlue Airways and Mark Williams, founder and CEO of the Diversity Channel. You’ll also get the chance to network with 1,300 of your peers while attending education sessions aimed at solving your unique challenges. Register by Feb. 15 to receive a discounted registration rate. Contact: AAHSA@Laser-Registration.com, (514) 228-3159.
| Visit the conference Web site. |
| Register for the conference. |


Audioconference Offers Look at Person-Centered Care Options for Your Community
Do you want to know more about the growing emphasis on person-centered care in aging services? Then join us on Jan. 31 from 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Time for an audioconference devoted to this important topic. On the call, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of THE GREEN HOUSE® model and other person-centered care concepts as well as the steps necessary to incorporate these service methods into your community. You will also hear about successes and challenges other AAHSA members faced integrating person-centered care into their work for older adults. Sign up now to save you and your staff a spot. Contact: Nataki Goodall, (202) 508-9471.
| Register online for the audioconference. |
| Print a PDF to register by mail or fax. |

Registration Now Available:

Disruptive Residents and the Law: What You Need to Know
Join us on Feb. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time to further your understanding of how to handle a disruption in a community caused by a resident (or a resident’s family member) with care, concern and coordination among the staff and community—with the best intentions of that person and his or her family in mind. Often, these sensitive matters require decisive and persistent action for the benefit and protection of the entire resident population. On the call, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding and guidance for developing contracts, policies and procedures that will help you to deter an incident or facilitate an effective response to a disruption. Contact: Nataki Goodall, (202) 508-9471.
| Register online for the audioconference. |


Unnecessary Antipsychotic Medication Use in LTC Facilities: CMS Requirements and AAHSA Member Innovations
Do you want to know more about antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes? Join us on Feb. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Time to understand more about this important issue. On the call, medical and pharmacy experts will discuss the effects of the revised 2006 CMS guidance and the appropriate and inappropriate use of unnecessary and off-label antipsychotic medications in nursing homes. You will also hear AAHSA members discuss how they reduced the use of antipsychotic drugs through diverse programming, including an increased emphasis on person-centered care. Contact: Nataki Goodall, (202) 508-9471.
| Register online for the audioconference. |

3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet?

Guidelines Make Creating Consumer-Friendly Information Easier
This week’s Quality First Guidelines can help you develop consumer-friendly information. Specifically, one Guideline discusses how to communicate information about your organization to consumers and the other is about communicating your organization’s rates and services to consumers. New Guidelines are coming every week in January to help you on your journey to put quality first. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
| View all of the available Guidelines. |



Read AAHSA’s First Nursing Home Regulatory Report of 2008
In this issue of the report, you’ll find the latest information on appropriate use of anti-depressants in nursing homes, the latest on NPI implementation and the Advancing Excellence Campaign. There’s also a summary of our legislative successes for 2007 and a new survey and certification letter on food preparations. Finally, you’ll find new U.S. Food and Drug Administration notices on Endrate, bisphosphonates, and recalls of contour test strips, the Alaris pump module and pre-filled Heparin lock flush solution. Contact: Barbara Gay, (202) 508-9489.
| Read the report. |

Need Help With Your Senior Housing Physical Inspection Reports?
AAHSA is here to help. If you’ve ever gotten a REAC (Real Estate Assessment Center) physical inspection report that just couldn’t be right, and you need to set the record straight, our new fact sheet offers tips and resources to help you file a successful appeal. And don’t forget to let us know if your appeal is rejected out of hand, because we may be able to help. Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
| See the new fact sheet. |

Webinar on Pain Management Now Available
The Advancing Excellence Campaign recently hosted a webinar where representatives from more than 1000 nursing homes learned about the Advancing Excellence process frameworks on pain management. Couldn’t make the conference? Not to worry. An audio recording and PowerPoint from the webinar are now available online. On Feb. 21, the campaign will host another webinar about pressure ulcers in nursing homes. Watch AAHSA This Week for registration information. Contact Karyn Downie, (202) 508-9410.
| Register for the campaign. |


Do You Have Historical Photos of Your Facility?
If so, consider sending copies of them to AAHSA. We want to use them to highlight how not-for-profit organizations like yours stand the test of time and will continue to care and serve elders for generations to come. Contact: Keesha Atkins, (202) 508-9440.


Partner Offers Comprehensive Therapy Programs for the People You Serve
Select Rehabilitation offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to individuals who live in skilled nursing centers and retirement communities. The organization’s programs are focused on offering patient-focused, outcome-driven services that allow each individual to live a fulfilling life with dignity. They will provide you with an analysis of your therapy program and discuss opportunities to improve your clinical and financial outcomes. Contact: Shelley Wisnowski, (877) 497-7838.
| Find out more about the program. |

advertisement

 

New Opportunities Available on AAHSA’s JobMart
Several career opportunities in aging services are now available and listed on Job Mart. Take a look. Pass along the news. If you have a job to post, consider using AAHSA Job Mart. Contact: Phillip Blackmon, (202) 508-9404.
Download the form to post a job.
Visit the AAHSA JobMart.

Jobs posted in the past week (Jan. 11 - 17):

Administrator
Nursing Home Administrator - Columbus, Miss.
Administrator - Issaquah, Wash.

Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Software Sales Professional: Enterprise Software Sales - Upstate New York - Flexible Location
Regional Marketing Director - Germantown, Md.

Nursing/Healthcare
Director of Nursing/Patient Services - Simsbury, Conn.
Director of Nursing - Glen Arm, Md.
Clinical Services Director - Portland, Maine

Other
Director of Healthcare Real Estate Development - Alexandria, Va.
Director of Life Enrichment - Newton, N.C.
Administrator of Home Health - Naples, Fla.
Regional Opportunities - Seattle, Wash.
Human Resources Director - Westminster, Colo.
Housekeeping Supervisor - Glen Arm, Md.
Director of Environmental Services - Glen Arm, Md.
Maintenance Supervisor - Glen Arm, Md.
Food and Beverage Manager - Southern Pines, N.C.
Leadership Coach - Rochester, N.Y.
Vice President Operations - Rochester, N.Y.


View Past Issues · Subscribe · Advertise · Contact Us

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
phone 202.783.2242, fax 202.783.2255