Bill > A11111

This bill directs the Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study and prepare a report on recreational activity programming within nursing homes, which are facilities providing residential care and medical services to individuals needing ongoing health assistance. The study will specifically examine how accessible and inclusive these programs are for all residents, considering factors such as accommodations for those with physical or cognitive impairments, the availability of services in multiple languages, provisions for transportation to off-site activities, and how programs are scheduled. To inform this study, the Department of Health will also collect data on various facility characteristics, including their size, location, ownership, staffing levels and qualifications (like activity directors), budget, and the structure of their programming, such as whether they use written activity calendars and the types of activities offered. Recreational activities are defined broadly to include structured physical and social interventions. The findings of this study are to be reported to the governor and legislative leaders within one year of the bill's effective date, which is immediately upon passage.