An older patient with dementia is referred for adult day services ...

[Diane]

An older patient with dementia is referred for adult day services (ADS). The patient's daughter asks the nurse about the benefits of ADS. The nurse considers which of the following in formu-lating a response? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. ADS are designed to provide social and some health services for older adults.
  b. ADS are covered under Medicare Part B.
  c. ADS offer respite services for caregivers from the responsibilities of caregiving.
  d. ADS often provide educational programs and support groups for caregivers.
  e. ADS are all staffed with registered nurses.

Question 2

Factors that are influencing the decrease in nursing home beds in the United States include: (Se-lect all that apply.)
 
  a. an increase in the use of residential care facilities.
  b. a shortage of certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
  c. increased Medicaid reimbursement for community-based care alternatives.
  d. a shortage of Registered Nurses who are certified in gerontology.
  e. the high cost of care in a nursing home.

[meryzewe]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, C, D
Adult day services are community-based group programs designed to provide social and some health services to adults who need supervised care in a safe setting during the day. They also of-fer caregivers respite from the responsibilities of caregiving, and most provide educational pro-grams, support groups, and individual counseling for caregivers. Some ADS are private pay, and others are funded through Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs, state and lo-cal funding, and the Veterans Administration. While most ADS do have professional nursing staff, there is no mandate that they do.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, C
The number of nursing home beds is decreasing in the United States as a result of the increased use of residential care facilities and more reimbursement by Medicaid programs for communi-ty-based care alternatives. However, in most areas of the country, the supply and use of nursing homes is still greater than those of other long-term care services options. While there is a shortage of certified nursing assistants as well as RNs who are certified in gerontology, this does not ac-count for the decrease in nursing home beds in the United States. The cost of care in a nursing home is high; however, that is not the driving factor in the decrease in the number of nursing home beds in the United States.