Outcomes of Assisted Living Accreditation in North Carolina
Author Information
Author(s): Zimmerman Sheryl, Efird-Green Lea, Sloane Philip, Reed David, Tian Yuke, Davis Scott, Preisser John
Primary Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hypothesis
Does accreditation improve or maintain quality in assisted living facilities?
Conclusion
Preliminary results suggest that accreditation may lead to better advance care planning and fewer medication errors in assisted living communities.
Supporting Evidence
- Preliminary results show an increase in advance care planning discussions from 53% in Q1 to 63% in Q2.
- There was a decrease in medication administrations with errors from 1.2% in Q1 to 0.6% in Q2.
Takeaway
This study looks at whether getting accredited helps assisted living homes provide better care. So far, it seems like it does!
Methodology
Communities were randomly allocated to a control or accreditation arm and followed for two years to evaluate care and outcomes.
Limitations
The study is still ongoing, and only preliminary results are available.
Participant Demographics
Most communities are for-profit (96%) and part of a chain (73%); 44% of residents have dementia, 25% have mental illness, and 53% receive state financial assistance.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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