JAMA Network Open recently released an article on recommendations for medical and mental health care in assisted living based on an expert Delphi Consensus Panel. The article identified 43 recommendations on how assisted living communities can improve the quality of care provided to residents.
The item most recommended, with 100% consensus, pertains to staff and staff training. Staff training areas include:
- Person-centered care
- End-of-life care
- Advance care planning
- Conducting cognitive assessments
- Dementia and mental illness
- Communicating change of condition to health care providers
- Routine nail care
- Having policies and procedures regarding aggressive or other behaviors and documentation of off-site medical or mental health visits with post-visit physician notes with findings
AHCA/NCAL also has a variety of educational offerings to help meet the training recommendations for LTC and assisted living facilities. Training programs include:
- Infection prevention and control
- Online dementia care training
- Prevention of abuse and neglect
- Preparing for adverse events
- Care planning
- Trauma-informed care
You can find all the above mentioned programs and other educational offerings here.
In addition to areas outlined for staff training, there is also a recommendation for increased staff to resident ratios. While we are experiencing the biggest workforce challenge in decades, there is hope. Equus Workforce Solutions (Equus) has partnered with AHCA/NCAL to offer long term care apprenticeship programs.
Equus is an Industry Intermediary for the U.S. Department of Labor charged with launching, promoting, and expanding Registered Apprenticeship models in Healthcare and Public Service. You can learn more about the AHCA/NCAL partnership with Equus here.
As an industry intermediary, Equus is committed to:
- Launching, promoting, and expanding Registered Apprenticeship models in high growth industries
- Connecting career seekers to Registered Apprenticeship program opportunities to increase Registered Apprenticeship placements
- Connecting businesses to career centers for talent pipelines and leveraged resources
- Connecting businesses to training providers
- Advising partners on available funding sources to support apprenticeships
- Increasing the number of Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for under-represented populations
- Providing information and technical assistance sessions on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion