A large group of diverse stakeholders advocating for better nursing home care announced a series of actions to improve nursing homes over the next 12 months. The national Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition released nine detailed action plans today to improve quality of life for residents and quality of work for staff in nursing homes. Each plan outlines specific goals, steps to achieve them, and the partners and infrastructure required along the way.
nurse-and-male-patient
During the past year, the 120 member coalition engaged long-term care advocates, nursing home leaders and residents, federal and state policymakers, and other advisors to develop action plans based on the areas of greatest need and biggest potential impact on resident quality of life, including: 1. addressing residents’ goals, preferences, and priorities, 2. strengthening resident councils, 3. improving Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) wages and support, 4. expanding CNA career pathways, 5.enhancing surveyor training on person-centered care, 6. designing a targeted nursing home recertification survey, 7. increasing transparency and accountability of ownership data, 8. developing a nursing home health information technology readiness guide, & 9. financing new nursing home models that are smaller with private rooms.
“The time for talking is over and our network is ready for action. These plans represent reforms that stakeholders can advance to create nursing homes in which lives are nurtured, residents are empowered, and where people want to work,” said Alice Bonner, PhD, RN, chair of the Moving Forward Coalition. “It’s time for providers, policymakers and advocates to pull the needed levers to achieve broad, sustainable change in nursing homes.”
Over the next few months, the Coalition will provide specifics about each action plan and ways for interested people and organizations to get involved and advance progress.
The Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition is funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, and draws on leadership from LeadingAge, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, other national organizations, and advisors.