September 26, 2012
ADSA: NH #2012-014
S&C 12-42: PARNERSHIP TO IMPROVE DEMENTIA CARE
Dear Nursing Facility/Home Administrator:
The purpose of this letter is to let you know that CMS has launched the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes and is currently promoting comprehensive dementia care and therapeutic interventions for NH residents with dementia-related behaviors. The goals of this initiative include a focus on person-centered care and the reduction of unnecessary antipsychotic medication use in nursing homes.
CMS is pursuing several approaches to successfully implement this initiative:
- Developing and conducting trainings for nursing home providers, surveyors, & consumers
- Conducting research
- Raising public awareness
- Using regulatory oversight and public reporting to increase transparency
Both the American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) have sent letters to their membership or State affiliates this summer; AMDA's letter sought to educate members about dementia issues and encouraging nursing home medical directors to join with AMDA and CMS in reducing the unnecessary use of antipsychotic agents by refocusing the interdisciplinary team on a better understanding of the root cause of dementia-related behaviors. That letter further provided medical directors and staff with the tools and resources they might use to achieve this goal (https://paltc.org/search?keywords=reduction+nursing+home+antipsychotic+use).
To read the details of the memorandum online, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions-Items/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-12-42
Please contact your local RCS Field Manager if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services