CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2022) — The Alzheimer’s Association and the Joint Commission today announced a collaboration to improve the quality and safety of dementia care in care nursing, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. The organizations will partner to assess ongoing scientific issues, standards and performance measures, and quality improvement initiatives, as well as provide education programs and presentations, and share data with the public.
An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021. Overall, 48% of nursing home residents have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. other dementias,[1] while 37% of residents of short-term nursing homes (less than 100 days) have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and 59% of long-term residents (more than 100 days) suffer from these ailments. Additionally, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have increased by 16% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is important for the Joint Commission to work with the Alzheimer’s Association, the nation’s leading voice on dementia and other memory-related issues, to help improve care for patients and residents at nursing homes. and assisted living communities,” said Gina Zimmermann, executive director, Nursing Centers and Community Supported Living Services, The Joint Commission. “Initially, our collaboration provides a unique opportunity to recognize nursing centers that meet state-of-the-art standards and implement best practices for the care of people with dementia. I look forward to expanding this collaboration to assisted living communities that provide memory care. »
The first part of the collaboration is an update to the Joint Commission’s Memory Care Certification (MCC) requirements, effective July 1, 2022. MCC is an add-on certification program available to nursing care centers (NCC) accredited by the Joint Commission. The program recognizes CCNs who focus on caring for patients and residents with memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, enabling these residents to remain engaged in their environment and to function cognitively. as high as possible.
The update includes 10 new requirements and four revised requirements that reflect current scientific evidence and best practice in long-term care and memory care. Requirements are consistent with Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations[2] and were finalized after analyzing the results of a Standards Review Panel (SRP) and public field reviews. Participants included clinicians, administrators and advocacy organizations.
“These new and revised certification requirements provide an evidence-based approach to ensuring the highest quality care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in nursing care settings,” said Beth Kallmyer. , MSW, Vice President of Care and Support, Alzheimer’s Association. “The Alzheimer’s Association is thrilled. The Joint Commission recognizes the value and importance of incorporating our dementia care practice recommendations into this updated certification. We believe that certification will not only improve care for people with dementia, but will also be an important factor for families seeking nursing care. »
The MCC requirements are available on the Prepublication Standards page of the Joint Commission website. They will also be included in the July 1, 2022 release of the e-edition and print update of the Complete Accreditation Handbook for Nursing Centers. NCCs can promote their achievement of the MCC throughout their community, using a co-branded logo.
Additionally, as part of the collaboration, the Joint Commission will provide credentialing and certification information for inclusion in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Community Resource Locator (CRF), a database of dementia-related resources. and aging for individuals, families and caregivers seeking targeted programs and services. by zip code.
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About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is leading the way to ending Alzheimer’s disease and all other forms of dementia by accelerating global research, promoting risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing the quality of care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementias®. For more information, visit alz.org or call the 24/7 helpline at 800.272.3900.
About the Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission seeks to continually improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and challenging them to excel in delivering safe and effective care. of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. To learn more about the Joint Commission, visit www.jointcommission.org.
[1]Harris-Kojetin L, Sengupta M, Lendon JP, Rome V, Valverde R, Caffrey C. Long-term care providers and service users in the United States, 2015-2016. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2019;3(43).
[2]Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations (2018). Gerontologist, 58: S1, S1–S9. doi:10.1093/geront/gnx182
