Attention Massachusetts Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility Management and Board Members – New Dementia Care Regulations Now In Effect

Check out this Boston Globe report on February 9, 2015 about the failure of many nursing home and assisted care facilities to comply with the new Massachusetts dementia care regulations. Those regulations took effect last year (two years after the authorizing legislation was passed). The new regulations can be found at 105 CMR 150.22-150.29.  All facilities offering longer term treatment to patients with Alzheimer’s or other dementia conditions must provide dementia training to their care giving staff members.  Initially, the training must be for at least eight hours and include some specific items relating to dementia patients and their families, as well as an evaluation (test) that the staff member must pass in order to keep working with dementia patients. After the initial training, the facility is required to provide similar training of at least four hours, with an accompanying evaluation, on an annual basis. There are additional requirements for a facility which in any way indicates that it “is capable of providing specialized care for residents with dementia.”  Such facilities must: (1) employ a therapeutic activities director dedicated to dementia residents; (2) have in place a therapeutic activities program of at least 8 hours of such activities daily; and (3) meet specified requirements for (i) the location of the dementia unit, (ii) access to indoor common areas and outdoor recreation space, (iii) types of lighting, floors, walls and ceilings, and (iv) control of noise, security and egress.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/08/nursing-home-dementia-care-rules-falling-short/e8xx9CwExsj8cL6GyP4LXI/story.html

Updated - Boston Globe February 11, 2015 editorial on same subject: 
http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2015/02/10/state-lets-too-many-nursing-homes-lag-dementia-care/UVcn5STQzukaLQ3ZUjqTwN/story.html

Non-compliance with the new Massachusetts regulations on dementia care could result in lawsuits costing long-term care facilities significant damages. If you have any questions about these regulations, please don’t hesitate to call me at 617-872-8648.