President & CEO Mark Parkinson has posted a new video message to members, highlighting the new, proactive approach AHCA/NCAL is taking with CMS and other policymakers. You can view this message on AHCA/NCAL’s YouTube Channel.
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Susan Reimer, Administrator of Heritage Club at Mountain View enjoys a visit from the Cup Cake Truck with residents of the community.
Celebrate Together During Nursing Home Week
Honor Our Resident and Caregiver Heroes
Great Photo Ops, Stories To Be Told
All Colorado Health Care Association nursing home members are urged to recognize National Nursing Home Week in their community. Send a short letter to the editor of your local newspaper or news shopper and ask the community to visit during the week. Pressed for time or resources? For free ideas on how to shake, rattle and roll during National Nursing Home Week, May 13 to 19, see the official web site or the National Nursing Home Week Facebook page. Be sure to post photos of your activities on Facebook as well. News media may locate facilities by accessing our website membership database.
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Governor Hickenlooper Proclaims Colorado
National Nursing Home Week May 13-19, 2012
Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed May 13-19, 2012 as National Nursing Home Week in Colorado. The proclamation pays tribute to the over 17,000 frail elderly and disabled of all ages as well as the many dedicated professional caregivers, recognizing their character, virtue and patriotism.in our collective journey through life.
Download a copy of the proclamation here.
Communities will be celebrating statewide. Take the time to visit with our greatest generation, those who have given so much to so many throughout the years. Volunteer, and share your own unique talents and gifts of love
to some very special individuals.
To become a more active partner in your nursing home community, review the listing of nursing homes in the web directory, where contact information is provided.
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AHCA/NCAL Announces 12 Colorado Bronze
Commitment To Quality Awards Recipients
CHCA is excited to announce that AHCA/NCAL has awarded 12 Colorado long term care communities as recipients of the 2012 Bronze - Commitment Quality Award. This is the first step in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award journey and recognizes that a provider has developed a foundation to begin a journey of continuous quality improvement. The winners are:
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Alpine Living Center
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Bear Creek Care and Rehabilitation Center
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Cedarwood Health Care and Rehabilitation
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Four Corners Health Care Center
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Grace Healthcare of Glenwood
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Hospice of St. John Foundation, Inc.
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Kindred Transitional Care & Rehabilitation Center
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San Juan Living Center
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Sierra Rehabilitation and Care Community
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Spring Creek Health Care Center
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Sterling Living Center
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Windsor Healthcare Center
The 2012 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award recipients will be recognized on Wednesday, October 10 during the Closing General Session of the 2012 Annual Convention and Expo in Tampa, FL. We are also hosting the National Quality Award Recipient Reception on Tuesday, October 9 from 5 - 6 p.m. This event will honor the 2012 recipients and provide attendees with an opportunity to network.
To learn more about the Quality program click here.
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Gardening at The Peaks Care Center
Gardening is always a favorite activity for the Residents at The Peaks Care Center in Longmont, CO. Shown here the residents enjoyed potting plants that were donated by Mike Whitehill of Caring Is Preparing. The experience satisfied some urges that spring fever brings while it is still too cold for the residents to spend time outside. While potting these plants, residents enjoyed the time reminiscing and telling stories of gardening and getting dirt under their finger nails. Residents are already planning this years vegetable and flower gardens for their courtyard.
Spring and Summer Health Tip
Remember during those hot days stay hydrated, use sunscreen and have plenty of fun!!
Life Enrichment Director, Carrie Sladek, Activity Assistant Carol Carroll, Residents; Frances Thompson, Diana Koester, Pat Kirby
Assisted Living Providers Participate In Power Failure Incident Command Exercise In Pueblo
Pueblo assisted living providers participate in an incident command exercise April 22, 2012, as part of the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living Emergency Preparedness workshops being held statewide. (Photograph by David Skipper)
Assisted Living Emergency Preparedness Training
In Grand Junction May 30, 2012
The Colorado Health Care Association will be offering the last of four (4) FREE statewide trainings open to all assisted living facilities in Colorado on May 30, 2012 at the Clarion Inn in Grand Junction. This training is made possible by a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This program provides and overview of basic emergency preparedness and management, stress and psychological factors in disaster relief and an introduction to incident command systems with Stan Spyteck, Fire and Life Safety Consultant to Long Term Care and David Skipper, Vice President of Emergency Management for CHCA. Aubrey Kukral from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will discuss EMResource and EMSystems, as a valuable FREE tracking and management tool designed for hospitals, but is now being designed out for nursing homes and assisted living residences.
To learn more about this valuable training opportunity, please download the curriculum brochure and registration form here: 20120206122928315.pdf.
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ALERT: ALL COLORADO NURSING HOMES
Has Your Facility Completed Basic FEMA Certification?
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will soon be looking for basic FEMA certifications in the emergency operations plans for ALL Colorado nursing homes. Complete your certifications by May 28, 2012 and recieve $1500, or wait until it becomes mandatory and you must complete them for $0. The Colorado Health bCare Association is facilitating a grant to provide $1500 to each nursing home in Colorado that has three staff members complete the required FREE online courses. The final deadline for accepting FEMA certificates of completion is May 28, 2012. For complete details click on the Emergency Management tab.
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CLICK THE IMAGE TO HEAR ABOUT CURRENT LTC ADVOCACY
FROM AHCA/NCAL PRESIDENT MARK PARKINSON
While things have slowed down in DC, spring is a busy time in most states and for AHCA/NCAL state affiliates. Short legislative sessions are coming to a close or long sessions are just reaching their half-way point. And with many states still facing unique budget challenges, skilled nursing and assisted living continues to be threatened with additional cuts to Medicaid. We’ve heard from numerous states about their ongoing efforts to battle these cuts or restore funding.
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We're Changing
the Conversation
Seventy percent of us will need long-term care after age 65, yet few of us openly discuss care needs and wishes. Care Conversations™ is bringing people together to change this conversation trend. We’re providing information and resources to get people talking with loved ones, health care providers and industry experts. Working together, we can plan and prepare for our future and ensure care needs are met every step of the way. Click the icon to learn more about this exciting initiative.
SEE MORE VIDEOS AND INFORMATION at CARE CONVERSATIONS
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Long Term Care Quality Initiative
The Quality Initiative is an effort that builds upon existing work the long term and post-acute care field is doing by setting specific, measurable targets to further improve quality of care in America’s skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities. AHCA/NCAL members are encouraged to reach defined, concrete goals over the next three years, in four core areas.
- Safely Reduce Hospital Readmissions: By March 2015, reduce the number of hospital readmissions within 30 days during a SNF stay by 15 percent.
- Increase Staff Stability: By March 2015, reduce turnover among nursing staff (RN, LPN/LVN, CNA) by 15 percent.
- Increase Customer Satisfaction: By March 2015, increase the number of customers who would recommend the facility to others up to 90 percent.
- Safely Reduce the Off-Label Use of Antipsychotics: By December 2012, reduce the off-label use of antipsychotic drugs by 15 percent.
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Nursing Centers To Be Fully Sprinklered by August 2013
This is a reminder that on August 13, 2013, all nursing centers must be fully sprinklered, consistent with the 1999 Edition of NFPA 13 – Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. CMS issued the final rule requiring full sprinklering in August 2008, allowing facilities 5 years to ensure that they are fully spinklered. Following this 5 year phase-in, it is unlikely that CMS will be lenient if a facility is found to be noncompliant with this requirement.
AHCA recently learned that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is currently reviewing and may revise an existing regulation that will allow some providers to access HUD loans to install sprinklers. As AHCA learns more about this HUD loan, we will provide you the information.
In April, AHCA will issue specific information regarding “full sprinklering” and answer questions such as: Must overhangs be sprinklered? Must closets and attics be sprinklered? What is required for sprinklering an elevator shaft? Must “out-buildings” be sprinklered?_____________________________________________________________
Don't Wait or Be Late... Be An Early Bird Nominee
Nominate Your Special Employees for the CHCA
Sp
otlight On Excellence Awards
It is time to start considering those special staff members that go above and beyond the call of duty by nominating them for CHCA's highest honors in the long term care profession, the Spotlight On Excellence Awards. Finalists will be honored at the 2012 Annual Banquet in Colorado Springs. Download the forms here or click on the logo.
Long Term Care Health Care Events Calendar
Download your copy of the 12-month health
care events calendar by clicking:
2012 Health Care Events Calendar - Full Year.pdf
Does your community have news
you would like to share on the web?
For editorial consideration send articles and high quality photos send to David Skipper at dskipper@cohca.org
2012 Directory: Life Is A Song
The 2012 Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living Resource Director is in the mail. This year's theme "Life Is A Song: Sing It."
Additional copies are available for sale. If you wish extra copies please call CHCA at (303)861-8228.
