The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training that provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the standardized patient assessment data elements (SPADEs) related to falls in Section J: Health Conditions.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association is excited to participate in the upcoming observance of National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), which will be held May 9-15, 2021. This year's theme, "Together Through the Seasons," will honor the collaborative commitment of skilled nursing care facilities and their staff in providing compassionate care to their residents during this unprecedented time.

Mass Senior Care has provided public testimony on the following two proposed regulations:

Mass Senior Care would like to alert long-term care facilities to a change in the Long-term Care Facility Licensure Renewal Application. The Department of Public Health will accept and process a long-term care facility license renewal application only if the application is completed and executed by an “Applicant” as defined in 105 CMR 153.004 (for example, an owner or executive officer of the licensee).

An announcement that due to the decrease in the number of focused infection control surveys, DPH has resumed annual surveys and information on a BinaxNOW expiration date update.

Notice regarding The Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety is offering a free six-week support group for nurses working with COVID-19 patients in any health care setting and a reminder about the weekly DPH call.

AHCA and LeadingAge announced a new nationwide goal of getting 75 percent of the approximately 1.5 million nursing home staff vaccinated by June 30. Click below to read more.

Reminders about the third room density report due on February 26, 2021 and seasonal influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel.

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care is now accepting nominations for its 2021 National Compassionate Caregivers of the Year Award. The National Compassionate Caregivers of the Year (NCCY) Award recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals from across the country who embody the characteristics of compassionate care, and whose professional achievements have helped to create healing healthcare environments for patients, families, colleagues, and communities.