California Skilled Nursing Homes Score High in Federal Quality Survey

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Nursing Home Compare website to help consumers obtain additional information about quality measures in skilled nursing centers.  

California skilled nursing facilities were ranked best in the nation in three categories.

California providers scored top marks in preventing weight loss and depression – and nursing home residents in the state showed the least amount of decline in their activities of daily living (ADLs).  The state's providers were second best in the nation in preventing falls which resulted in serious injury.  Overall, California providers performed better than the national average in a majority of quality indicators.

"This is a tremendous achievement," said California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF) CEO/president Jim Gomez.  "Our members have worked tirelessly to make measureable improvements in the quality they deliver to residents – and this report validates their commitment to improving the lives of those in their care."

In all, CMS measured 18 quality indicators for long-stay and short-stay residents over a period of nine months beginning in October 2011. In addition an aggregate list comparing each state and its quality indicators, created by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) using CMS data, can be viewed here.

*Activities of Daily Living include the ability to get dressed, eat meals and conduct other activities that allow residents to be as independent as possible, enabling them to return home or to a lower level of care.

Although California is below the national average in the use of antipsychotic medication, CAHF is encouraging members to take part in the CMS national quality initiative, Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes, to reduce the unnecessary use of anti-psychotic medication by 15 percent by the end of 2012. 

About CAHF
Founded in 1950, the California Association of Health Facilities is a non-profit professional association representing skilled-nursing facilities and intermediate-care facilities for the developmentally disabled.  Each year, CAHF members provide short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, end-of-life assistance for 300,000 people. www.cahf.org

SOURCE California Association of Health Facilities