The nursing home dining assistant program: a demonstration project.

The purpose of this study was to extend earlier research on the dining assistant (DA) federal regulation allowing trained non-nursing staff to provide feeding assistance care in nursing homes. Observations were conducted pre- and post-implementation, with periodic observations during implementation. To assess sustainability, data were analyzed at 12 months post-implementation.

A preliminary evaluation of the paid feeding assistant regulation: impact on feeding assistance care process quality in nursing homes.

Purpose: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sponsored a nationwide study to evaluate the federal paid feeding assistant (PFA) regulation that allows nursing homes to hire single-task workers to provide feeding assistance to nursing home residents. Organizers designed the PFA regulation to increase the number of staff available to provide assistance with eating and improve nutritional care process quality.

Design And Methods: Trained research staff used standardized protocols to conduct direct observations during meals and face-to-face staff interviews in a convenience sample of seven facilities with PFA programs to evaluate care process quality.