A Word from Our President
Argentum Advocates Briefing – November 17
2023 KSLA Conference – Education Session Survey
Another COVID-19 Testing Option: Enroll in CDC’s Free COVID-19 Testing Program
CDC Revises COVID-19 Guidance
Argentum Infection Prevention & Control Announcements
SB-61 Alzheimer’s & Dementia Training – Here’s Where We Are
CHFS Surveillance COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs
Conference & Education Planning Committee
What Are Your Questions About SB-11?
Category Archives: Members Only News
Argentum Advocates Briefing - November 17
Argentum will host a briefing on November 17 at 2 p.m. ET offering expert analysis of the results of the federal and state elections and how senior living priorities will be affected.
This briefing is open to verified and active members of Argentum Advocates. You don't have to be an Argentum member to become an Argentum Advocate, but you must be an Argentum Advocate to attend this briefing.
2023 KSLA Conference - Education Session Survey
Believe it or not, the Conference & Education Planning Team has already started planning our annual Conference & Exhibition, which is scheduled for May 17-18, 2022. We hope you'll save the date and plan to join us!
We've created a short, three-question survey regarding our educational breakout session offerings for 2023 and would appreciate your participation. This survey is the first of a few that we'll be sending out to invite you to help shape next year's event. So stay tuned for more...
Another COVID-19 Testing Option: Enroll in CDC's Free COVID-19 Testing Program
The CDC Operation Expanded Testing (OpET) program provides access to free COVID-19 PCR tests for assisted living residents and staff, through December 31, 2022. The program provides specimen collection supplies, shipping materials, laboratory testing, and results reporting, and providers may receive up to a four-week supply at a time.
Providers must enroll through the OpET screening testing program for their respective hub. Kentucky's hub can be found by clicking Here.
Be sure to read the FAQs to learn how the program works. The FAQs refer to schools in a few places and don't mention long-term care. However, the program is designed for other "congregate settings" which include assisted living facility residents and staff.
CDC Revises COVID-19 Guidance
The CDC has issued revised COVID-19 guidance to include recommendations for testing, isolation, and other mitigation strategies.
The agency still recommends testing in high-risk settings, to include long-term care facilities, irrespective of vaccination status. Additionally, individuals who are symptomatic or have a known or suspected exposure should test.
Isolation Guidance
- Anyone who is symptomatic or tests positive should isolate for five or more days, wear a mask, and avoid contact with high-risk individuals.
- Individuals may stop isolating after five days if no symptoms develop or if symptoms are improving and have not had a fever for 24-hours.
- In addition, the guidance also states that “Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.”
It also recommends continuing to wear a mask through day 10 or after two sequential negative tests 48-hours apart.
Argentum Infection Prevention & Control Announcements
Infection prevention and control is one of the most important aspects of senior living. As our population ages, the risk of infection increases, so it is important to have systems in place that protect our residents from illnesses and keep them healthy.
Argentum has announced that they're expanding the COVID-19 blog to include some of the latest research, news and advances in infection prevention and control. Click the link below to read more.
SB-61 Alzheimer's & Dementia Training - Here's Where We Are
We've received several questions over the past week about the Alzheimer's & Dementia training requirements set forth in SB-61. Here are some clarifications:
- All current staff who provide care to individuals who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias must have completed six hours of training no later than last Thursday, July 14, 2022.
- As of July 14, 2022, new hires must complete six hours of training within their first 60 days of employment AND prior to providing care to residents who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
- After the initial six hours of training, the requirement is three hours of Alzheimer's or dementia-specific training each year thereafter.
- The Office of Dementia Services will approve all training plans. The contact person for this is Jennifer Craig, and she can be reached at Craig@KY.gov. Facilities should submit their training plans to Jennifer.
- While awaiting approval from Jennifer, facilities are free to use current Alzheimer's and dementia training programs for direct care staff.
Click on the links below to see:
DAIL's 2nd REVISED Dementia Curriculum Review Implementation ALC Memo
Application for Dementia Curriculum Review
Pre-approved dementia training list 5.16.2022
If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org or 502.938.5102 or Jennifer Craig, Office of Dementia Services (@DAIL) at Jennifer.Craig@KY.gov.
CHFS Surveillance COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs
FAQs Updated as of June 28, 2022, and salient points follow:
Beginning July 1, 2022, CHFS-contracting clinical labs will provide the following:
- Antigen Test Kits for ongoing surveillance test administration by the provider, and
- PCR testing to detect the presence of COVID-19 infections for
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- Any eligible person with a positive antigen test result, or
- Any eligible person with a physician's order for a PCR test (following CDC-approved guidance).
To see an updated list of participating laboratories, Click Here and scroll down to the bottom left-hand side of the page to "List of participating labs: Beginning July 1, 2022." These clinical laboratories are eligible for reimbursement by CHFS until the federal funding for this program expires. There is no charge to residents for these tests.
Providers will continue reporting positive results only to KHIE or NHSN, the tested individual, and the selected participating clinical lab in the same fashion as for the first half of 2022.
This program is not mandatory for assisted living facilities or personal care homes, but is available, voluntary and strongly encouraged.
For additional information about the testing program, contact Carrie Anglin, Carrie.Anglin@ky.gov or 502-385-1712.
Conference & Education Planning Committee
The KSLA Conference & Education Planning Committee meets 1-2 times per year to plan the annual conference and workshops to be held throughout the year. If you have ideas and would like to serve on this team, please let Rebecca know at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org. The next meeting of this committee will be held in September. Thanks!
What Are Your Questions About SB-11?
Even though we have a ways to go before SB-11 goes into effect, the work to write the regulations to modernize assisted living in Kentucky will be beginning soon. We'd like to share your questions with those who will be at the table working on writing those regulations.
Please be specific, and send your questions to Rebecca at Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org
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Phone: 502.938.5102
