NURSING HOME TRANSITION

Nursing home transition (NHT) is the program started by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and Department of Public Welfare to assist residents of nursing facilities to relocate to the community. The centers for Medicare and Medicaid are structuring a fundamental change in federal policy that is guiding this program.  NHT program at the Office Of Aging began as a pilot in 2005.
 
There are 13 nursing facilities in Berks County covered by this program.  Twice monthly a list is generated of all new admissions to nursing facilities.  The Office Of Aging NHT staff meets with these new residents and assists them if they express the desire to leave the nursing home.  The goal is to provide services to these individuals in the community, where they prefer to live, rather than a costly nursing home.
 
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has set a quota for each local Office of Aging.  This quota is the number of residents each office is supposed to transition.  The Berks quota for July to Dec 2006 is 27 and the quota for Jan to June 07 is 42.  The number of residents transitioned for 2006 was 18.  Staffing for NHT has been problematic which has impacted meeting established quotas.   One position was filled in Sept 06.  The second position was not immediately approved and therefore, not filled until March 07.  However, none of the 52 local offices of aging have been able to meet the quotas established by the Department of Aging.
 
This program has heightened the awareness among residents and family members regarding the variety of services available to assist consumers in returning to the community.
 
Nurse Consultants:
 
Nurse Consultants fill a critical need for the Office of Aging.  Initially, Nurse Consultants were utilized for meeting the contact visit requirements set by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging for Waiver consumers. However as the Nursing Home Transition Program was developed the role of the Nurse Consultants was expanded and new responsibilities were added.  Additional responsibilities included: chart reviews, assessments and Nursing Home Transition functions. In 2007, Nurse Consultants drove 6,594 miles, worked 1946 hours and made 659 visits.