Assisted Living State Regulatory Review 2011

A great summary!  Click here for the Assisted Living State Regulatory Review 2011 from the National Center for Assisted Living.  The section on Pennsylvania starts on page 165.  I scanned in the PA only section, which can be found here.

DPW's Annual Report on PCH just released!

A copy of DPW's 2010 Annual Report on Licensed Personal Care Homes can be found here.

Vendor Info - McKnight's online expo

Vendor information from the McKnight's online expo can be found here.

Fwd: PALA's 2011 Spring Conference "Session in the Spotlight"

2011 PALA Spring Conference "SESSION IN THE SPOTLIGHT"  Listening and Responding to the Resident's Unmet Need Often caregivers stop or hesitate to communicate because they feel inadequate in their ability to communicate with individuals who have memory loss. As a result we often do not adequately meet their basic human needs to be listened to, to have meaning and purpose, or to feel loved and secure. During this session at PALA's Spring Conference, participants will also practice some verbal and nonverbal Validation techniques which will enable them to better listen, communicate and connect with persons with memory loss. -Rita Altman, National Memory Care Director, Sunrise Senior Living Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association   Spring Conference  April 18-19, 2011  Eden Resort & Suites, Lancaster 12 CEU's!  Over 30 Vendors! View the Conference Brochure HERE Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association 105 North Front Street, Suite 106 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101 p.717.695.9734  f.717.695.9735  e.info@pala.org www.pala.org

Payment Rate Calculation Tools and Other References

• RUGs-IV Rate Calculation Tool: This tool calculates the skilled nursing facility (SNF) Medicare Part A payment for FY 2011, effective Oct. 1, 2010.
• RUGs-III, RUGs-IV Comparison Rate Tool: This tool will automatically calculate your total Medicare payments for FY 2010 and FY 2011 separately, and provide you with an estimate of the difference in payment as a consequence of the new RUGs-IV implementation. The model (updated July 16, 2010) calculates rates using the +1.7% market basket update for FY 2011. This tool should be used after reviewing Getting Stated: Understanding RUGs-IV©
• SNF Market Basket Updates (FY2004 - FY2010): List of all the market basket final updates from 2004 to most recent.

McKnight's officially unveils new products-and-services website: SearchEldercare.com

This article was sent to you by: alexis.wukich@gmail.com

McKnight's officially unveils new products-and-services website:  www.SearchEldercare.com
McKnight's is announcing the official debut of SearchEldercare.com, a new website dedicated to providing long-term care professionals with the most up-to-date guide of new products and services.

Read the full article here:
McKnight's officially unveils new products-and-services website: SearchEldercare.com

PIECING TOGETHER QUALITY LONG-TERM CARE: A Consumer's Guide to Choices and Advocacy

I received this from the Disability Rights Network today:

"March 23, 2011 - Today, on the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (formerly NCCNHR), announces the launch of its new guide Piecing Together Quality Long-Term Care:  A Consumer's Guide to Choices and Advocacy.  The guide is intended to educate people with disabilities and older adults about their options for long-term services and supports and empower them to be self-advocates for quality long-term care.  The guide also provides information and resources to assist people currently living in nursing homes to move back into the community.

 
Get a copy of the guide here.

Medication Management in Assisted Living

Interesting article on Medication Management in Assisted Living Residences from LeadingAge (formerly American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging [AAHSA]) can be found here.

Long-Term Care in Westmoreland County Facts (as compared to Pennsylvania's other counties)

Overall Population

• Westmoreland County's projected population is 357,681 for 2015 and 353,578 for 2020.
• It is the 10th largest county (of 67) in PA and is expected to remain so through 2020.
• Of all PA counties, Westmoreland County ranks 12th in its population aged 65 years or older (projected to rank 7th by 2020) and 21st in its population aged 85 years or older (projected to rank 6th by 2020

Skilled Nursing Facilities

• In 2007, there were 2,219 nursing home residents in Westmoreland County for the 10th most people living in skilled nursing facilities in PA.
• Westmoreland County has the 9th highest number of skilled nursing beds - 2,451 as of 2007.
• Even though Westmoreland County has the 9th highest number of beds, it ranks 57th out of 67, in terms skilled nursing capacity - averaging 3.7 beds per 100 elderly (people aged 65+) residents.  The statewide average is 4.9 skilled nursing beds per 100 elderly residents.

Personal Care Homes

• Westmoreland County has the 5th most people living in Personal Care Homes (PCH).
• In Westmoreland County, the number of people living in PCH has decreased since 2001.
• The occupancy rate in PCH is 70.4% in Westmoreland County and 69.2% statewide.
• Westmoreland County ranks 24th amongst all PA counties in terms of PCH capacity per elderly, averaging 4.1 PCH beds per 100 elderly versus the statewide average of 3.6 PCH beds per 100 elderly.

Assisted Living Residence Regulations

Pennsylvania's newly adopted regulations for Assisted Living Residences can be found here: 55 Pa. Code §2800.

Assisted Living Residence Presentations & FAQ

Link to the notes from the "Assisted Living Residences" Presentation by Dawn L. Richards, Esq. from Capozzi & Associates (10/7/2010) can be found here.

Links to the notes from the "Administrator Orientation Program for Assisted Living Regulations" Presentation by the Office of Long-Term Living (1/6/2011) can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers from the PA Dept. of Aging can be found here.

FW: DON'T MISS OUT - Register TODAY - PALA's 2011 Spring Conference

PALA'S 2011 SPRING CONFERENCE   Looking to see Keynote Speakers back by popular demand?  Looking to go back to basics with key seminars?  Looking to see what the future of ALR is?  Looking to hear from the Corbett administration regarding their vision of assisted living residences, personal care homes, and long term care policy?   Then confirm your attendance TODAY for PALA's Spring Conference!                      Featuring a multitude of past Conference speakers, including such favorites as Dr. Kay Potetz, a motivational speaker and management consultant with over 25 years of management and administrative experience in Health Care!      Do Not Miss a keynote address by Jeffrey Snowell of Snowell Consulting, Inc - an educational and human resources firm specializing in designing and delivering training and development solutions.  Snowell is a dynamic speaker who lectures extensively on staffing, stress management, and diversity!         Plan on Attending PALA's Spring 2011 Conference?   Interested in seeing who is presenting & speaking during the Conference?      CLICK HERE to view the "PALA 2011 Spring Conference" Agenda and Registration Form   Interested in being a Vendor in April? Space is still available for any interested company - but space is selling out!  CLICK HERE to view the Vendor Application  Interested in Sponsoring PALA's Spring 2011 Conference? PALA has a myriad of sponsorship opportunities fit for any level of interest  CLICK HERE to view the Sponsor Application  To see additional information about PALA's Spring 2011 Conference (including Eden Resort information/rates), please go to www.pala.org    NOT A PALA MEMBER?    The Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association (PALA) is a professional not-for-profit trade association representing Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences that vary in size from small owners to large state and national corporations. We are recognized as an association dedicated to helping Personal Care and Personal Care Providers address relevant issues and challenges as they arise in the emerging industry.         Whether from our Public Policy Representation or our Professional Development Services, PALA is here for YOU!      Visit our website www.pala.org - or click on our membership application - to find out more information (membership services/rates) on how PALA membership impacts your community, organization, or company!   The Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association  has been selected by the Assisted Living Federation of America as the 2011 recipient of the Horace D'Angelo Jr. Memorial Award.  The ALFA Horace D'Angelo Jr. Memorial Award is presented annually to ALFA state affiliates for their achievement, success, and efforts to align state regulations with ALFA's public policy positions.     We invite all industry leaders, legislative leaders, and those in the Assisted Living and Personal Care Home field to join PALA for our "ALFA Award Celebration" taking place during our Spring 2011 Conference starting Monday, April 18th, 2011 at 4:30pm at the Eden Resort and Suites in Lancaster, PA.  PALA Board members, staff, and Conference attendees will be on hand to share in PALA's success.  PALA welcomes all to attend for this exciting night of acknowledgement, and industry networking! To see the press release celebrating this achievement, please CLICK HERE! PALA'S Spring Conference "Vendor in the Spotlight" Expect to see this exciting vendor at our 2011 Spring Conference in April: Founded in 1975, Bayada Nurses provides nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, and personal home health care services to children, adults, and seniors in the comfort of their own homes. Bayada Nurses has over 13,000 nurses, home health aides, and therapists working from more than 170 offices in 18 states.

Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System

The Medicare Learning Network has created a very helpful fact sheet on SNF PPS.  The fact sheet can be found here.

Long-Term Care Facility Regulations

Pennsylvania LTC Regs

Federal LTC Regs

Personal Care Regulations

The Pennsylvania regulations for Personal Care Homes can be found here: PA PCH Regs

Nursing Care Facility Locator for Pennsylvania

Nursing Care Facility Locator (Pennsylvania)