Nursing homes have come a long way in providing quality long-term carefor the aged. Over the years, nursing association in the United States has expanded its licensing boundaries to accommodate various levels of education in nursing as well as accountability and responsibilities.
Similarly, accreditation for nursing homes and (CCRC) Continuing Care Retirement Centers also came up to ensure that standards and regulations are upheld. Moreover, quality of service provide by CCRCshave improved since the introduction of accreditation programs. In essence, accreditations of these facilities have been influential in improving service delivery and care for the ill as well as disabled.
In addition accreditation has enabled nurses to improve care giving to patients and the needy. In fact, supervisory role which lies with physicians has reduced with the introduction of accreditation programs. This paper will identify as well as discuss accreditation for skilled nursing facilities and continuing care retirement centers(Pacific Retirement Services, Inc., 2011, p. 1).
Skilled nursing facilities have become increasingly important in modern times as the population ages. In fact, most families consider moving their aged loved ones into nursing homes. It is therefore important that they are placed in accredited facilities as this ensures their well being.
These facilities meet the increasingly difficult needs of senior people in society as they receive attention from care providers all round the clock. In essence, nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities refer to homes that provide best care for the aged (outside the hospital). Basically, skilled nursing facilities provide custodial care.
These include medical care, feeding, dressing and bathing, among others. In addition, the facilities provide services of other professionals like physical or occupational therapists, among others. This makes it a suitable place for the aged. Moreover, there are CCRCs, which specifically target the aged who live independently but require being attended to whenever necessary as they continue to grow older.
These communities can sometimes be referred to as Lifecare centers since they entail long term care for the aged. For these service centers to function effectively, they must uphold certain standards as provided by regulators. Therefore they have to receive full accreditation for their services in order to offer them to the public(HELPGUIDE.ORG, 2010, p. 1).
Nursing homes and CCRCs are required to meet certain standards that regard competency, credibility as well as quality assurance, among others. This can only be done through accreditation as it ensures that acceptable practices are offered. Nursing facilities are usually required to have trained nursing staffs in order to be accredited. This enables them to provide 24-hour nursing care form registered nurses.
Similarly, CCRCs must also be accredited before they offer their services to public. The process of accreditation is usually complex as it involves upholding certain requirements. CCRCs are usually accredited by private agencies such as (CCAC) Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, which takes about 14 months.
This is always done to promote good governance, resident life as well as reviewing of its finances. Nursing homes also require accreditation and this can be done by agencies namely, (JCAHO) the Joint Commission, (ABC) American Board of Certification and (CARF) Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, among others(Demand Media, Inc.,2010, p. 1).
Once a healthcare provider is accredited by any of the above named agencies, then it can receive full certification for its services. This way, nursing homes and CCRCs can offer quality service to the aged and sick patients. Accreditation has improved service delivery in nursing homes as well as CCRCs and this has in turn worked to refute the myths associated with nursing homes. In essence, in order to improve quality of service in these homes, accreditation process must be followed effectively(BCBSNC, 2011, p. 1).
References
BCBSNC. (2011). Credentialing Instructions. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Web.
Demand Media, Inc. (2010). How to Evaluate a Continuing Care retirement Community. ehow. Web.
HELPGUIDE.ORG. (2010). Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Web.
Pacific Retirement Services, Inc. (2011). Capitol Lakes Retirement Community: Welcome to Capitol Lakes Retirement Community, the best of downtown Madison’s senior living! retirement. Web.