Understanding and coding MDS 3.0 Item F0800N: Staff Assessment - Being Around Animals or Pets

MDS 3.0 Item F0800N: Staff Assessment - Being Around Animals or Pets

Introduction

Purpose: For many residents in long-term care settings, being around animals or pets can provide comfort, emotional support, and joy. MDS Item F0800N assesses whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for being around animals or pets, especially when the resident cannot express this preference themselves. Understanding these preferences can play a vital role in enhancing the resident’s emotional well-being and quality of life.

What is MDS Item F0800N?

Explanation: MDS Item F0800N is part of Section F: Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities. This item evaluates whether the staff assessed the resident’s preference for being around animals or pets when the resident cannot communicate this preference. For some residents, interactions with animals can reduce feelings of loneliness, provide sensory stimulation, or offer a sense of companionship. Conducting this assessment ensures that the resident’s personal interests and emotional needs related to being around animals are respected and supported.

Guidelines for Conducting and Coding MDS Item F0800N

Conducting the Staff Assessment: If a resident is unable to communicate their preference for being around animals or pets, staff should assess this interest based on family input, past behavior, and observations. Considerations include:

• Has the resident previously expressed a preference for being around pets or animals, either as a pet owner or animal lover?
• Does the resident respond positively to therapy animals or animal visits in the facility?
• Have family members or caregivers indicated that the resident enjoys interacting with animals?

This assessment helps ensure that the resident’s emotional well-being is supported by incorporating animals or pet visits into their routine if desired.

Coding Instructions: The coding for MDS Item F0800N depends on whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for being around animals or pets. The coding options are:

• 0 - No: No staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preference for being around animals or pets.
• 1 - Yes: A staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preference for being around animals or pets.

Example Scenario: If a resident cannot express their preference, and staff assess, based on family input and past behavior, that the resident loves dogs and enjoys pet therapy sessions, you would code F0800N as 1 - Yes. If no assessment was made, you would code F0800N as 0 - No.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Comprehensive Assessment: Ensure that the staff assessment includes input from family members, caregivers, and observations of the resident’s past interactions with animals. This ensures that the resident’s preference for being around animals is understood and supported, contributing to their emotional well-being.

Documentation: Clearly document the sources of information used to assess the resident’s preference for being around animals or pets. Proper documentation ensures that the resident’s interests in animals are respected and accommodated in their care plan.

Communication: Share the results of the staff assessment with the care team to ensure that the resident’s preference for being around animals is incorporated into their routine. This may involve scheduling visits with therapy animals or allowing residents to interact with pets in the facility.

Training: Provide staff with training on the benefits of pet therapy and the positive effects of animal interactions on residents, particularly for those with cognitive impairments or emotional needs. Staff should be encouraged to facilitate meaningful interactions between residents and animals in a safe, controlled environment.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item F0800N helps ensure that residents who cannot communicate their preference for being around animals or pets still have their emotional needs met. Conducting a staff assessment allows the care team to incorporate animal interactions into the resident’s care plan, promoting emotional support and improving the resident’s quality of life.

Click here to see a detailed Step-by-Step on how to complete this item set.

Reference

This guide is based on the CMS's Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1, October 2024, Page F-5.

Disclaimer

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item F0800N: "Staff Assessment - Being Around Animals or Pets" was originally based on the CMS's Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1, October 2024. Every effort will be made to update it to the most current version. The MDS 3.0 Manual is typically updated every October. If there are no changes to the Item Set, there will be no changes to this guide.

This guidance is intended to assist healthcare professionals, particularly new nurses or MDS coordinators, in understanding and applying the correct coding procedures for this specific item within MDS 3.0. Additionally, this guide refrains from handling personal patient data and does not provide medical or legal advice.