A.G. Rhodes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality nursing home care, is under the leadership of CEO Deke Cateau. Known for his proactive approach, Cateau has led significant initiatives to enhance nursing home quality of care across its three campuses in Atlanta, Georgia. His recent endeavors include expanding facilities, improving dementia care, and tackling workforce challenges, all aimed at providing better living conditions for residents.
Major Expansion at Cobb Campus
One of Cateau's notable achievements is the $37.5 million expansion at A.G. Rhodes' Cobb campus. This project transformed the facility to offer all private rooms, with a particular area dedicated to dementia care built using the household model. This model emphasizes creating a more home-like environment for residents, which is crucial for those with dementia.
Details of the Cobb Expansion
The expansion allows the Cobb campus to cater to 72 residents with dementia, providing them with individualized care in a household setting. The remaining 58 residents will also benefit from private rooms, enhancing their privacy and comfort. The project involved building a new memory care facility on adjacent land and retrofitting the existing building to eliminate shared occupancy rooms.
"This transformation is a testament to our commitment to dignified care for our elders," Cateau explained. "Despite the financial challenges, we knew providing our residents the best possible living conditions was essential."
Future Plans for Other Campuses
With the successful completion of the Cobb campus expansion, Cateau aims to modernize the other two A.G. Rhodes facilities. Recognizing the financial hurdles, he remains optimistic about replicating the Cobb model, emphasizing the importance of providing high-quality long-term care across all locations.
"We're very realistic financially; that's no easy task," Cateau noted. "This Cobb project cost us 37.5 million dollars. Many people say we're crazy for having done it. But of course, we did it because we know that is the most dignified way of caring for our elders."
Addressing Survey Process Challenges
A significant issue facing A.G. Rhodes and many other nursing homes is the survey process and the backlog that impacts admissions, quality of care, and public perception. The current system has been described as punitive, with little focus on quality improvement.
Impact of Survey Backlogs
The survey backlog has severely affected many nursing homes, including A.G. Rhodes. Facilities with outdated surveys or abuse warnings face challenges in admissions and public perception, affecting the quality of care.
"This survey backlog has hurt not just us but many communities," Cateau said. "Many communities have substandard surveys and abuse warnings that cannot be removed until they have a new survey. Thus, they've been affected from an admission standpoint, from a quality standpoint, from a public perspective standpoint. We have one such community that has waited over two years now to be surveyed. That is excessively punitive."
Need for Reform
Cateau advocates for revamping the survey process, emphasizing the need for a balance between regulation and quality improvement. He believes the current punitive nature of surveys is detrimental to the morale and effectiveness of nursing home staff.
"The survey teams are coming into our homes now, and there's not one ounce of quality improvement or assurance in our survey process. It is 100% a punitive process," he asserted. "That needs to be revisited. We understand fully the need for a robust survey and recertification process. That's the only way to ensure actors stay clean and do the right job. I get that. But I also think some level of quality can be inserted into that process."
Innovative Workforce Solutions
Workforce challenges are another critical issue for A.G. Rhodes. The organization has implemented several innovative solutions to address these, including creating an in-house staffing agency and partnerships with local institutions to bolster the workforce.
In-House Staffing Agency
To mitigate labor issues, A.G. Rhodes established its staffing agency to serve its three homes. This initiative has proven immensely successful, ensuring the facilities are adequately staffed with trained professionals committed to providing high-quality care.
"Last year, we also started our staffing agency to help with some of our labor issues for our three homes only; that has been immensely successful," Cateau shared.
In-House Dialysis Clinics
A.G. Rhodes also built in-house dialysis clinics at two campuses in partnership with DaVita. This initiative improves the quality of life for residents with end-stage renal disease and serves the broader community, particularly in areas with high incidences of renal disease.
"As a nonprofit, it was essential for us to do that for the quality of life of our elders living with end-stage renal disease," Cateau explained. "It's also a huge community service because those two zip codes, the Atlanta zip code and the Cobb County zip code, actually have two of the highest incidences of end-stage renal disease in Georgia."
Immigration Program Collaboration
In an effort to address staffing shortages further, A.G. Rhodes is exploring a unique immigration program in collaboration with a local university. This program aims to attract nursing students already in the United States and provide them with opportunities to work in the nursing home sector.
"These are individuals who are here now, in the United States, with nursing licenses already, and are studying at this institution, not doing nursing, but they're currently studying in a different program," Cateau said. "We hope to give them some exposure on the nursing side and see if they can help us from a labor perspective."
Financial Support and Medicaid Reimbursement
Financial stability is essential for providing quality care in nursing homes. A.G. Rhodes benefits from Georgia's Medicaid reimbursement policies, which include carve-outs for specific services like dementia care. The recent state budget, signed by Governor Brian Kemp, earmarks $416 million for skilled nursing facilities, reflecting a collaborative effort to support these essential services.
"Medicaid in the state of Georgia does a good job. They have several carve-outs, such as a 'pay for performance' within the Medicaid system. The carve-outs are for cognitive deficits and acuity. Used well, that program can offer more incentives. It looks like the state administration is working with nursing homes to see that improve more," Cateau noted.
Conclusion: A Vision for Better Care
Under the leadership of CEO Deke Cateau, A.G. Rhodes is at the forefront of efforts to improve the quality of care in nursing homes. Cateau is dedicated to creating a more supportive and dignified environment for nursing home residents through facility expansions, innovative workforce solutions, and advocacy for survey process reforms.
The ongoing projects and plans at A.G. Rhodes exemplify a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for elderly residents. By addressing financial, regulatory, and staffing challenges, the organization aims to set a new standard in nursing home care and ensure that residents receive the best possible support and attention.
As discussions about Medicaid and nursing home funding continue, A.G. Rhodes' proactive approach serves as a model for other facilities striving to improve their services. With continued support and collaboration from state and federal agencies, the vision of high-quality, resident-centered care in nursing homes can become a reality.
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