By HFT Staff

The Alzheimer’s Association and The Joint Commission recently announced a collaboration to help improve quality and safety in dementia care in nursing, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities. The organizations will partner to evaluate ongoing scientific issues, standards and performance measures, and quality improvement initiatives, as well as to provide education programs and presentations, and share data with the public. 

An estimated 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older lived with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021. Overall, 48 percent of nursing home residents have Alzheimer’s or other dementias, while 37 percent of short-stay nursing home residents have Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and 59 percent of long-stay residents have these conditions. Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths also have increased 16 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The first part of the collaboration is an update to The Joint Commission’s Memory Care Certification (MCC) requirements, effective July 1, 2022. MCC is an add-on certification program available to nursing care centers (NCC) accredited by The Joint Commission. The program recognizes NCCs that focus on the care of patients and residents with memory-impacting conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias – enabling these residents to remain engaged in their environment and to function at the highest cognitive level possible. 

The update includes 10 new and four revised requirements that reflect current scientific evidence and best practices in long-term care and memory care. The requirements align with the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and were finalized after analyzing the results of a Standards Review Panel (SRP) and Public Field Reviews. Participants included clinicians, administrators, and advocate organizations.