Quality Initiatives

Quality Initiatives

MHHA's mission is to promote excellence and innovation in older adult services. To that end, the association has created or endorses several quality enhancement initiatives.

The Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes campaign is a national endeavor sponsored by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other national organizations with an interest in the quality of America's nursing homes. The campaign is designed to put increased vigor behind existing efforts to improve the quality of care and quality of life for those living or recuperating in America's nursing homes. To learn more or to join this campaign, go to www.nhqualitycampaign.org.

Quality First is a covenant signed by AAHSA members across the continuum of aging services who have made a commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people can trust. The core of AAHSA Quality First is the 10 Elements of Quality:

1. Commitment
   
2. Governance & Accountability
   
3. Leading-Edge Care and Services
   
4. Community Involvement
   
5. Continuous Quality Improvement
   
6. Human Resources Development
   
7. Consumer-Friendly Information
   
8. Consumer Participation
   
9. Research Findings and Education
   
10. Public Trust and Consumer Confidence

To learn more, go to http://www.aahsa.org/qualityfirst/default.asp

MHHA Housing-with-Services Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics Powerpoint Presentation

Providers that have adopted the MHHA Housing-with-Services Code of Ethics strive to create a culture of mutual respect, understanding and trust with the people they serve and those who support them. They pledge and commit to:

• fairness, honesty, and confidentiality.

• open communication and encouragement of self-expression in order to

• continually improve our services.

• nurture choice through disclosure of vital information to enable the people

• we serve to make informed decisions about the level of care - and corresponding level of risk - they desire.

In addition, the Code of Ethics commitment is to:

• develop a well-trained, competent staff and prudently manage (name of organization)'s resources to provide quality housing and services and to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

• provide innovative and supportive housing in a well-maintained setting that reflects the values of our community.

• help the people we serve to obtain services to maximize their desired level of independence, autonomy and dignity.

• identify internal as well as community resources to assist them with life's transitions.

• foster community and commit to... acknowledge and respect each person we serve as a reflection of his or her own culture, life experiences, habits and decisions.

• partner with the people we serve and those who support them - their family and community, and members of our organization; and

• demonstrate good citizenship and create opportunities for mutually beneficial activities with the greater community.

Guiding Principles for Dementia Care
American consumers like to know what to expect when they make choices, whether it is where to buy a fast-food burger, have a suit dry cleaned or pump a gallon gas. Consumers seek out service providers who offer consistent quality. In no other arena of life is quality more important than in health care, where consumers can be met with an array of confusing terms and unfamiliar regulations. In Minnesota, people seeking care for persons who have Alzheimer's disease or related dementia-causing illnesses, can make informed choices - that is, know what to expect - when they discuss care options with members of Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance (MHHA) who have adopted the Guiding Principles of Dementia Care.

The seven Guiding Principles of Dementia Care were developed by MHHA's Memory Care Task Force, which was led by caregivers who are experienced dementia specialists. They reviewed best practices and key research in the field and identified leading resources including the Alzheimer's Association and major universities.

Written with consumer satisfaction in mind, the Guiding Principles of Dementia Care are part of a larger effort by MHHA to outline voluntary quality benchmarks for providers of older adult services.

Advanced Professional Training
Housing-with-services in Minnesota is in its second decade, but it continues to evolve. As this sector of older adult services expands, MHHA is responding to the need for specialized training in four distinct areas through programs that enhance development of housing-with-services and provide advanced professional development for specialists who work in the field. MHHA Housing-with-Services Certificate Programs are offered for professionals in housing management, marketing and sales, dementia care and nurse management.

MHHA thanks 2008 Annual Sponsor and our other sponsors for their support and partnership.