The committee examined the delivery, finances, regulation and nursing home quality of care in the U.S., with an emphasis on challenges that have arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform the recommendations in the 605-page report.
“The way in which the United States finances, delivers and regulates care in nursing home settings is ineffective, inefficient, fragmented and unsustainable,” the report said.
Five key recommendations:
- Given death rates in nursing homes from COVID-19, nursing homes should be included in emergency planning, preparedness and response at federal, state and local levels.
- Nursing homes should identify and document care preferences of residents and families, with oversight from CMS.
- Staff should ensure care plans address medical, psychosocial and behavioral health needs of residents and revisit plans at least quarterly.
- Federal agencies, academic institutions and private foundations should fund research on care models and specific factors that affect care to best meet the needs of nursing home residents.
- CMS should establish minimum national competency and education standards for workers and immediately implement requirements for 24/7 registered nurse staffing and add a full-time social worker in all nursing homes.