Articles and Resources of Interest

• Top Distinction in Quality Care Earned by Four Long Term and Post-Acute Care Providers – ahcancal.org
• Antipsychotic Use Continues to Decrease Among Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents, CMS Report Shows – ahcancal.org
• AHCA/NCAL Statement on the 50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid – ahcancal.org
• Dr. Alice Bonner Named 2015 Champion of Quality Award Recipient – ahcancal.org
• Long Term Care Honorees Announced – ahcancal.org
• National Quality Organization Endorses Profession’s Key Quality Indicators – ahcancal.org
• Shriver Center Studying Falls Prevention in People with Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities – umassmed.edu
• Poll Finds Public Perception Varies On Intellectual Disabilities – disabilityscoop.com
• Spending On Community Living Hits Record – disabilityscoop.com
• Analysis Ranks Best States For Disability Services – disabiltyscoop.com
• ‘Miniature Brains’ Reveal An Outsized Secret About Autism – disabiltyscoop.com
• Finding A Formula For ‘Medically Complex’ Kids – disabiltyscoop.com
• Health Tip: Eat Responsibly – healthfinder.gov
• 1 in 4 Senior Women in U.S. Has Osteoporosis: CDC – healthfinder.gov
• Exercise May Buffer Symptoms of Early Alzheimer's – healthfinder.gov
• High Blood Sugar May Boost Alzheimer's Risk – healthfinder.gov
• Alzheimer’s Caregiving Tips: Traveling Overnight – NIA.NIH.gov
• Brain Health: You Can Make a Difference! – ACL.gov

Legislative and Agency Corner

• Thune Bill Would Improve Access, Availability of Rural Health Care – ahcancal.org
• Senate Unanimously Passes NOTICE Act – ahcancal.org
• AHCA/NCAL Welcomes Nomination of Andy Slavitt for CMS Administrator – ahcancal.org
• HUD Launches Resource Locator App – HUD.gov
• FHA Announces New Lender Performance Measure to Expand Credit Access to More Eligible Borrowers – HUD.gov
• NIH Joins Public-Private Partnership to Fund Research on Autism Biomarkers – NIH.gov
• Government Panel Questions Universal Autism Screening – disabiltyscoop.com
• Investigations Target Federal Disability Program – disabiltyscoop.com
• State Officials Plan For New ABLE Accounts – disabiltyscoop.com
• Funding For ASD Research Trending Up – disabilityscoop.com

Webinars of Interest

Stay informed and tune in to AHCA/NCAL-hosted pre-recorded and live webinars on a number of topics impacting the long term care profession. 

On Sept. 17, 2015, between 2-3:30pm ET, AHCA will host a webinar entitled, “Strategies for Addressing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Facilities and Ensuring Compliance with OSHA’s New Guidelines.”  Healthcare workers face an increased risk of workplace violence in their work and data suggests that 70% of workplace assaults occur in the healthcare industry.  In response, OSHA recently released an update to its Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers and it has indicated that it will focus on the hazards associated with workplace violence in all healthcare industry inspections.  The publication includes suggested best practices and provides some insight on how to reduce the risk of violence in various healthcare and social service settings.  Attend our webinar to learn about the new OSHA guidelines and strategies that can help you successfully address the unique challenges that the healthcare industry faces in tackling this workplace challenge.  You can register for the webinar here. 

In addition, on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET, the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center will hold a webinar entitled Dementia Friendly Communities on “creating communities that are safe and respectful, provide support, and work toward quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.  Webinar participants will learn about key concepts related to Dementia Friendly Communities and hear from community leaders putting these concepts into action.”  You can register for the webinar here.

Service Excellence: I Can't Imagine a World Without

According to Dr. Bryan K. Williams, “If a grocery store can win a Forbes 5-Stars rating, this store would be it. It’s one thing to be exceptional, and it’s another to be consistently exceptional. MOM’s Organic Store in the Washington DC Metro Area is just that; Consistently Exceptional. I can honestly say that every business can learn from the workplace and service culture that MOM’s cultivates.”  He goes on to note a “few key points that MOM’s excels at (and all organizations can emulate).”  Dr. Williams also states in this blog, “Don’t let job titles or department names get in the way of learning as much as you can about where you work.”  To read the full blog posting, please click here. 

Dr. Williams is a consultant, trainer, and author, who focuses on the areas of service excellence and organizational effectiveness.  He has spoken at numerous AHCA/NCAL events, and his passion is to serve others so they may better serve the world.  Here is a link where you can see some of Dr. Williams’ book recommendations on service, leadership and personal development.

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds a monthly call or webinar concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability.  One of the past calls focused on resources for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers.  Information about future calls, and audio recording of previous ones, can be found here.

Upcoming 2015 Events

• The National Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Conference - Aug 31- Sept 3, 2015
• AHCA’s ID/DD Day - Oct 4, 2015
• AHCA/NCAL’s Annual Convention & Expo - Oct 4 - 7, 2015
• Pediatric Complex Care Association Annual Conference - Nov 4 - 6, 2015

2015 Health Care Observances

The 2015 AHCA/NCAL Health Care Observances Calendar can be found here.  September marks, among other observances, National Cholesterol Education Month, National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and National Preparedness Month.