This letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services outlines the requirements for nursing homes and other healthcare facilities to provide special eating equipment and utensils, as well as appropriate assistance, to residents who need them. Facilities must provide assistive devices to residents who need them to maintain or improve their ability to eat or drink independently, and provide staff assistance to ensure that these residents can use the assistive devices when eating or drinking. Facilities must also review sampled residents' comprehensive assessments and plans of care for their capacity/ability to eat independently, and determine if recommended adaptive eating equipment and utensils are being utilized by residents. If they are not being used, staff must determine why and develop alternative recommendations to monitor ongoing assessments. Lastly, staff must competently assist residents who use assistive devices. This letter requires nursing homes and healthcare facilities to provide special eating equipment and utensils, as well as appropriate assistance, to residents who need them, and review sampled residents' comprehensive assessments and plans of care for their capacity/ability to eat independently. Staff must also competently assist residents who use assistive devices.

Summaries are generataed using AI. Check important information.