A third-party consultant has been hired to assess the overall operations of the state agency that provides regulatory oversight to Oregon’s assisted living, residential care and memory care communities, as well as its skilled nursing facilities and adult foster homes following an audit calling for “systemic changes.”
The Oregon Department of Human Services announced in December that it hired consultant Alvarez and Mersal to conduct an independent, external assessment of the agency to identify potential improvements and provide information on best practices to strengthen the work of the unit that licenses and regulates senior living and care organizations.
The assessment follows a report released in April by Oregon’s long-term care ombudsman in the wake of the death of a memory care resident who eloped undetected from a community. The report prompted Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) to request an external review of the Department of Human Services’ oversight of assisted living and residential care communities, adult foster homes and nursing facilities. That call to action prompted the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services to provide policy recommendations that included “systemic changes” at ODHS.
“With the external assessment, we will gain an independent perspective on our practices that will help us continue to improve and build upon our strengths,” Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, PhD, director of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. “Evaluating how we do our work is essential to making our programs better and ensuring that all Oregonians have quality, safe options for long-term care in their communities.”
LeadingAge Oregon expressed cautious optimism on the move. CEO Kristin Milligan said she hopes the effort will include addressing concerns and ongoing challenges that long-term care operators face when working with the department.
“While we are hopeful for positive change, we want the findings to focus on improving internal processes and offering improved support to providers,” Milligan told McKnight’s Senior Living. “It’s essential that the review promotes transparency and fosters meaningful communication between providers and the department.”
She added that she would be concerned if the outcome results in more regulatory positions or merely maintains the status quo without addressing the ongoing challenges providers face in their interactions with the department.
“Likewise, it’s important that regulatory agencies receive the necessary support and oversight to effectively carry out their responsibilities,” Milligan said. “Collaboration between providers and regulatory agencies is key, ensuring both are well-equipped to work together toward the shared goal of safe, high quality long-term care communities.”
In addition to the assessment, the state agency also is launching a new webpage to provide consumers with information about assisted living communities, residential care facilities, adult foster homes and nursing facilities that have restrictions on new admissions due to compliance issues. The agency also is conducting in-person site visits to see firsthand the operations at residential long-term care settings in the state, adding staff members to its licensing inspection team and stepping up reviews of serious incidents that involve older adults and people with disabilities.
Source: McKnights Seniorliving