Overview
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is in the process of identifying person-centered attributes and indicators for its Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) programs. To assist CMS and assisted living stakeholders, the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL), a nonprofit collaborative of 11 national organizations, has published recommendations for person-centered HCBS attributes and assisted living indicators. The project was undertaken with Commonwealth Fund support.
The Issue
The goals of person-centered care in assisted living include offering residents: privacy, autonomy and choice; meaningful access to the surrounding community; a meaningful life and engagement; and high-quality care. Developing and enforcing standards for assisted living facilities can help realize these goals.
Target Audience
Policymakers, assisted-living community leaders and workers, advocates, quality researchers
The Intervention
Using domains established by a CEAL white paper, Person-Centered Care in Assisted Living, as a framework, the CEAL board of directors has issued recommendations for general HCBS attributes and indicators specifically for assisted living. The recommendations were developed through a consensus process that was informed by an invitational meeting attended by assisted living, HCBS, and long-term quality experts.
The domains are:
- Core values and philosophy (personhood; respect and dignity; autonomy, choice and independence; and privacy)
- Relationships and sense of community (belonging)
- Governance/ownership
- Leadership
- Workforce practices
- Meaningful life and engagement
- Services
- Environment
- Accountability
Within each of the nine domains, further detail is given on the general person-centered attributes and assisted living indicators. For example, within the "Privacy" subdomain, the HCBS attribute is: "Every individual has the opportunity for meaningful privacy in their lives at the times they choose." The corresponding assisted living indicator is "choice of a private room."
For More Information
To download the complete list of attributes and indicators, visit the CEAL Web site.