Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care

Among the issues confronting America is long-term care for frail, older persons and others with chronic conditions and functional limitations that limit their ability to care for themselves. Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care takes a comprehensive look at the quality of care and quality of life in long-term care, including nursing homes, home health agencies, residential care facilities, family members and a variety of others. This book describes the current state of long-term care, identifying problem areas and offering recommendations for federal and state policymakers. Who uses long-term care? How have the characteristics of this population changed over time? What paths do people follow in long term care? The committee provides the latest information on these and other key questions. This book explores strengths and limitations of available data and research literature especially for settings other than nursing homes, on methods to measure, oversee, and improve the quality of long-term care. The committee makes recommendations on setting and enforcing standards of care, strengthening the caregiving workforce, reimbursement issues, and expanding the knowledge base to guide organizational and individual caregivers in improving the quality of care. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary Introduction Profile of Long-Term Care State of Quality of Long-Term Care Information Systems for Monitoring Quality Improving Quality Through External Oversight Strengthening the Caregiving Work Force Building Organizational Capacity Reimbursing to Improve Quality of Care Closing Remarks References Appendix A: Committee Meetings and Presenters of Testimony Appendix B: Separate Dissenting Opinions Acronyms Biographical Sketches of Committee Members Index