July 24, 2024

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The Latest News

2024 Staff Recognition Program

The 2024 Staff Recognition Program is here again, and this is a way for you to honor your staff and volunteers. Our yearly awards ceremony is just a small way of honoring some of the great men and women who care for the elders of our great state! The time taken from your busy schedules to fill out this nomination is very much appreciated.

Winners will be honored at our Annual Convention and Trade Show on Friday, September 27, 2024.

Deadline to submit nominations is Friday, August 23, 2024.

2025 KHCA/KCAL Membership Directory

KHCA/KCAL has once again partnered with E&M Consulting, Inc. to produce our Membership Directory. The publication will be available in both print and digital formats. E&M will be managing the project, including advertising sales and layout/graphic design. They are highly professional and produce a high-quality publication, and we ask that you give them a moment of your time. E&M will be contacting all members about the advertising opportunities available. The publication will be mailed to every member – a great opportunity to promote and give your company additional exposure.

To view the ad rates/options and sign-up online, please visit: https://www.reserveyourad.com/KSHCAKSCAL/

If you have any questions or want to advertise, please contact an E&M sales associate at 800-572-0011 ext. 0104 or advertising@eandmsales.com. As always, your support is greatly appreciated!

Bill seeks new structure, staff and standards for national LTC ombudsman program

Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have introduced a bill to strengthen and expand long-term care ombudsman programs, calling for a new national director and a study to better understand the number of additional volunteers needed.

It would update for the first time in 30 years the ratio of ombudsmen — citizen advocate-overseers of nursing homes — to the number of facility beds. It would also make it easier to recruit volunteers, the lawmakers said. READ MORE

A Message from US Senator Marshall: Fighting to Keep Rural Nursing Homes’ Doors Open

The Biden Administration has consistently imposed unnecessary federal rules and regulations on long-term senior citizen care facilities. The latest rule would increase the mandatory staff-per-resident ratio in nursing homes, completely ignoring the realities of the ongoing nationwide nursing shortage.

I have deep concerns that if this rule were enforced, many nursing homes would shut their doors for good because they simply cannot hire enough staff to comply with these arbitrary mandates. At the end of the day, our seniors stand to lose the most from this rule. READ MORE

Unlock Excellence: 2025 Quality Award Applications Are Now Available

The National Quality Award Program is excited to announce the opening of the 2025 application cycle! Access our new and enhanced educational materials on the Quality Award website to set yourself on the path to success.

Prepare for a transformative year with these essential resources:

Comprehensive application packets: Bronze for SNFs & ID/DDs, Bronze for ALs, Silver and Gold
Month-to-month roadmaps to guide Bronze, Silver and Gold applicants
Kick-off webinar recorded on July 9 (in case you missed it)
Criteria video series on ahcancalED

By participating in the Quality Award Program, you can:

Gain invaluable external perspectives
Receive detailed, constructive feedback
Enhance organizational resilience and performance
Achieve prestigious recognition

Discover the incredible journeys of past recipients on the Quality Award Stories website. Imagine this could be your story next year!

Seize this chance to demonstrate your dedication to excellence. Visit the Quality Award website now to access the latest materials for the 2025 application cycle.

For any inquiries, contact the Quality Award Program at qualityaward@ahca.org

Click here to learn about our Virtual Gold Award Workshop

Click here to learn about our Virtual Silver Award Workshop

Click here to learn about our Virtual Bronze Award Workshop

Assisted Living Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Look at FCS/NSA and HSP

Thursday, August 8, 2024

10:00AM - 2:00PM

Olathe, KS

The Functional Capacity Screen (FCS). Who knew such a simple looking document could be so complicated? During this lunch and learn you’ll learn how to accurately complete a Functional Capacity Screen (FCS). Together you’ll collaborate and work through common ‘gray areas’ and how to document them. Once you’ve tackled the Functional Capacity Screen (FCS), the Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) and Health Services Plan (HSP) are next! A completed FCS will be provided to all participants and Joan Hudson, RN-BC, LNHA will walk you through how to take the data from the FCS, add your resident ‘wants’ to the assessment and produce a Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) to capture all the billable services for your resident.

Joan will also address situations for Negotiated Risk Agreements, NSA Addendums and ideas for completing them. Once the FCS and NSA are done we’ll use the information to create our Health Services Plan (HSP) that describes to our direct caregivers how to provide the services we’ve negotiated for our residents.

This workshop is a great opportunity for Operators and Nurses to work through this process as a team. It’s also a chance for you to make sure you’re on the same page and meeting the requirements as set out by KDADS.

Click here for more details.

Upcoming Education