Federal Nursing Home Regulations

In 1987 the US congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, known as the Nursing Home Reform Act. This was brought on by the abuse and neglect that had become so common in nursing homes across the country. The act declared that all nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid programs must comply with the Federal regulations.

Staffing Regulations

• Part of the earlier neglect was due to a shortage of staff to properly assist the patients with regular tasks such as eating, bathroom chores and walking. The new regulations require that each nursing home must be sufficiently staffed with trained nursing personnel to provide adequate supervision and assistance to all patients for all functions in their lives including eating, bathing and walking.

Proper Assessments

• The regulations require that upon admission, all nursing homes must conduct efficient assessments of each patient regarding their functional capacities. Once this is analyzed, an appropriate care plan is to be set out that will properly outline the care required for tasks such as eating, bathing and walking.

Updated Records

• Nursing homes are to maintain complete and updated records of each patient's state of health including physical and mental abilities, and the care they have received and will receive. These records must be complete and updated regularly with all medical information and a report of the care given regarding nutrition, grooming, personal oral hygiene, and vision and hearing abilities. These records are to be accessible to all medical staff and to the family.