White House Conference on Aging Considers New Standards for Nursing Home Care

The White House Conference on Aging convened this July to discuss a number of proposed changes to nursing home standards nationwide. Topics discussed covered everything from scheduled meal times for nursing home residents to the use of antipsychotic medications to staffing requirements, according to a recent news PBS news report.

The conference also focused on how to implement a number of changes required by the Affordable Care Act, as well as how to bring Medicare and Medicaid into the digital age by incorporating electronic health records and tracking measures to help nursing home residents and other patients ensure their medical needs are met.

Other rules covered would encourage individualized care in nursing homes, including better attention paid to specific dietary needs and preferred eating schedules, as well as the option for all nursing home residents to choose their roommates or to live with other family members - for instance, for elderly married couples to continue living together even if both are moved into the same nursing home.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Currently, nearly 125 million Americans' medical needs are paid for through Medicare and Medicaid, including millions of older Americans who require nursing home assistance.

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