Washington, DC – Responding to news reports, which cite the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in noting that physical restraint use in nursing homes has dramatically declined in recent years, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) today pointed to ongoing quality improvement initiatives as contributing to this advancement and to helping to improve nursing home residents’ quality of life.
"Improving residents' clinical outcomes and quality of life within the facility itself is our paramount priority, and we are proud of the fact that our profession's quality improvement efforts, especially our collaboration with consumers, the federal government, and other long term care stakeholders through Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes are doing just that," stated Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA. "Despite this success, we are cognizant that quality improvements must be ongoing, so the long term care profession will remain dedicated to continuing its improvement regime on an across-the-board basis."
The Associated Press reported earlier this week that, "The use of physical restraints on nursing home patients declined nearly 40 percent nationally in recent years as the federal government, states and the nursing home industry placed greater emphasis on eliminating what once was a common practice." The new nursing home data also found restraint use among long term care patients dropped from 9.7 percent in 2002 to 5.9 percent in 2006.
Yarwood said that as America's population ages and the first baby boomers begin to require long term care, nursing homes and stakeholders are jointly and cooperatively coming together to improve the quality of care and quality of life for those living or recuperating in America’s nursing homes. "Quality means care and services that respect the individual's needs and choices, improve the likelihood of achievable clinical outcomes, and are consistent with evidence-based knowledge," he continued.
The AHCA President and CEO praised Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes, mentioned in the Associated Press article and of which AHCA is a founding member. The coalition-based initiative focuses on how America's frail, elderly and disabled citizens are cared for within facilities. The campaign's voluntary members monitor key indicators of nursing home care quality; promotes excellence in caregiving for nursing home residents; and acknowledges the critical role nursing home staff has in providing care.
The campaign builds on the success of other quality initiatives like Quality First, the Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI), and the culture change movement. Goals include creating a culture of person-centered, individualized care and an empowered workforce in nursing homes.
As the nation’s largest association of long term and post-acute care providers, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) advocates for quality care and services for frail, elderly and disabled Americans. Compassionate and caring employees provide essential care to one million individuals in our 11,000 not-for-profit and proprietary member facilities.