News In Brief - November 21. 2014

Aging 2.0 and AgeTech West announce plan to join forces
At this week's AgeTech West conference in Seattle, AgeTech West announced that it will integrate into Aging 2.0, a global innovation network and startup accelerator. AgeTech West is a network of aging services providers and technology companies founded by LeadingAge California, LeadingAge Oregon and LeadingAge Washington to facilitate technology development and adoption in aging services. We are excited about the possibilities that this partnership will bring to our shared mission of accelerating innovation to improve the lives of older adults. LeadingAge Oregon will continue to be involved as a member of the Aging 2.0 Alliance Advisory Council. Read more.

AgeTech West speaker from Google offers website insights
A tidbit from the AgeTech West conference: Cathy Smith, Head of Industry at Google, has analyzed Google search data for senior living and offered a few insights for providers about their websites when she spoke at the conference this week. Smith said that the top search areas related to senior living are:

Smith noted that ratings and testimonials appear to be increasingly important to consumers. She also said that 44 percent of searchers use smartphones, so be sure to make sure your website is optimized for mobile searchers.

Portland-area workforce collaborative to begin implementing workforce plan for long-term care
After months of analysis and meetings with long-term care providers, the Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative is set to begin work implementing a Regional Health Care Workforce Plan for the long-term care sector. The plan includes three goals:

Attract the right talent - Focus groups of long-time employees in long-term care will be interviewed to identify the traits of successful long-term care employees and to develop messaging and materials to attract similar talent to the field.
Improve retention across the industry - Strategies include developing a high-caliber talent pool that would be kept in a state database; on-the-job training with training wages paid through the public workforce system; and supervisory training for existing long-term care supervisors.
Attract youth to the industry - Strategies include the mapping of career pathways that can be communicated to youth and the development of internship programs and career-related learning experiences.

LeadingAge Oregon member Lynn Szender, Director of Health Services at Mary's Woods, has agreed to chair the Long-term Care Industry panel that will guide this work. If your organization is located in Washington, Clackamas or Multnomah counties and you are interested in learning how you can participate in this important project, please e-mail [email protected].

Home Care Commission seeking interest in Committee participation
The Oregon Home Care Commission charged with implementing the Homecare Choice Program to open the home care registry to private pay consumers is creating the following three committees and is inviting consumers, providers, advocates, stakeholders, and partners to participate in development of the program through participation on the committees.

Worker Classification Subcommittee
In-Home Services and Standards
Self-Assessment and Service Planning

Access a description of each committee. If you are interested in partgicipating in one or more of the committees, please answer the following questions and submit to Jenny Cokeley ([email protected] by Monday, December 1, 2014.

Which committee or committees are you interested in participating?
What is your interest in participating?
What knowledge or experience can you bring to the group?
Please indicate if you are representing a specific organization or group.

Nursing homes can't charge Medicaid residents for haircuts
State nursing facility program staff have issued an Administrator Alert clarifying that nursing facilities may not charge Medicaid residents for simple haircuts and shaves for grooming and cleanliness, no matter who provides the service, since grooming services are included in the Medicaid bundled rate. Specialized hair services or products, such as special haircuts, permanent waves or coloring, may be charged to the resident. Read the alert.

RCFs will have time to install lockable doors
Under newly revised ALF/RCF building rules, all RCFs will need to have a "lockable door with lever-type handles" for every resident unit. The state amended this section of the rules due to a CMS requirement. The lockable door is already a requirement for ALFs. Operations and Policy Analyst Debbie Concidine said RCFs will be given time to implement this change, possibly up to two years. Read the revised rules. Comments on the rules are due no later than December 22.

AANAC Resident Assessment Coordinator class offered in January
A Resident Assessment Coordinator certification training (RAC-CT) sanctioned by the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC) is being offered in Portland January 20-22. The program delves into clinical assessment and care planning, completion of the MDS, and the regulatory body surrounding the RAI/MDS process. LeadingAge member Mirabella is hosting the class. Read more.

State collects ICD-10 resources on DMAP web page
Nursing homes preparing to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 on October 1, 2015 may want to take a look at the resources that are being collected and posted by the Oregon Division of Medical Assistance Programs (DMAP). The web page answers questions about the transition, describes what DMAP is doing to prepare, and lists CMS resources. In addition, LeadingAge Oregon members will want to watch for training dates, which will be scheduled in the spring. Visit the DMAP ICD-10 page.

Does your Nursing Home Compare staffing data match your cost report?
An investigation by the Center for Public Integrity has found that many nursing homes across the country over-report the staffing data that is posted on the Nursing Home Compare website. The Center compared the self-reported data used by Nursing Home Compare with cost reports submitted annually for the state/federal Medicaid program. According to the investigation, 21 percent of Oregon nursing homes over-report their staffing data. Visit the investigation web page to read more or search for your facility's comparison data.

HUD schedules webinar Dec. 2 on preservation and refinance of HUD 202 and 236 properties
HUD is hosting a webinar from 11 a.m. to noon Pacific time December 2 to provide information on how to preserve the affordability of Section 236 and Section 202 buildings. The webinar will discuss preservation options, refinancing, recapitalizing and renovation. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the HUD Exchange Training and Events page. Learn more and register.

Do your caregivers use "elderspeak?"
Certified nursing assistants are more likely to use a patronizing form of speech called "elderspeak" if they are familiar with a resident, if the resident has dementia, or when they are alone with a resident, according to a new study. Elderspeak is defined to include using simpler vocabulary and sentence structure, exaggerated intonation and vocal pitch, a slowed rate of speech and the use of personal terms of endearment (i.e., "honey"). The researchers recommended communication training to avoid the use of elderspeak, which they said can threaten self-esteem and well-being and increase dependency. Read more.