Bill > S10163

This bill directs the Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study and prepare a report on recreational activity programming offered in nursing homes, which are facilities providing residential care and medical services to individuals needing long-term support. The study will specifically examine how accessible and inclusive these programs are, considering factors like accommodations for residents with physical or cognitive impairments, the availability of services in multiple languages, transportation options for activities outside the nursing home, and how programs are scheduled. To inform this study, the Department will collect data on various facility characteristics, including their size, location, ownership (for-profit or non-profit), staffing levels and qualifications (especially for activities directors), budget, and the structure of their programming, such as whether they use written calendars and the types of activities offered. Recreational activities are broadly defined to include structured physical and social interventions. The Department must submit its findings to the governor and legislative leaders within one year of the bill becoming law, which will take effect immediately.