Issue link: https://www.newlifestylesdigital.com/i/1376950
59 The Care Plan Conference: Making Your Voice Heard Most caregivers with a loved one residing in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) will be asked to participate in a "care plan conference," or a "quarterly care conference" at one time or another. Family members frequently attend these meetings at the request of the assisted living or skilled nursing facilities where their parent or spouse resides, but with a limited understanding of what a care plan document is intended to provide, or what the goals of an effective care plan conference should be. A care plan is a road map of sorts, which provides goals – and directives for achieving those goals – for residents, families, and facility staff. Care plans are required by any SNF that accepts Medicare or Medicaid (which includes 95% of all SNFs in the U.S.), per the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. Individual states regulate assisted living communities, and they are not bound to the same federally regulated, standardized assessment and care plan process. However, most states recognize the value of care planning in the assisted living environment and have implemented their own versions. n any setting, a good care plan includes a) measurable objectives, with time frames, b) tasks that have been assigned to specific staff members or other responsible parties, and c) methods of evaluation. A care plan should be written in language that everyone involved can clearly understand, and should reflect the specific needs and concerns of the individual resident. Most importantly, a care plan should be read carefully on a regular basis, revised whenever necessary, and followed diligently. The resident should attend the care plan conference whenever feasible, and the presence of an additional advocate is worth considering. Residents and their representatives will receive a written communication with the date and time for which the next quarterly care plan meeting has been scheduled. Come to the care plan meeting with a written list of questions, concerns, and observations. If you do not have a copy of the current care plan, ask to see one. The care plan meeting is your opportunity to ensure that all of your family member's medical and non-medical needs have been identified and are being addressed in satisfactory ways. The care plan meeting is also your opportunity to provide the staff with important background information that will improve the quality of care that your loved one receives. You and your family member should determine what "quality care" means to you, and clearly communicate your expectations to those providing that care. by Amy Abrams