Understanding and Coding MDS 3.0 Item F0800B: Staff Assessment - Caring for Personal Belongings

MDS 3.0 Item F0800B: Staff Assessment - Caring for Personal Belongings

Introduction

Purpose: Many residents in long-term care facilities value the ability to care for their personal belongings, as it helps them maintain a sense of control and independence. MDS Item F0800B assesses whether staff have conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preferences for caring for their belongings when the resident cannot communicate these preferences themselves. Understanding these preferences allows the care team to ensure that the resident’s belongings are handled in a way that respects their autonomy and dignity.

What is MDS Item F0800B?

Explanation: MDS Item F0800B is part of Section F: Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities. This item evaluates whether staff have assessed the resident’s preferences for managing their personal belongings when the resident is unable to communicate these preferences. For some residents, caring for personal items, such as clothing, toiletries, or sentimental items, is an important part of their daily routine. By assessing and documenting these preferences, the care team can ensure the resident’s personal items are respected and handled according to their wishes.

Guidelines for Conducting and Coding MDS Item F0800B

Conducting the Staff Assessment: If a resident is unable to communicate their preferences for caring for personal belongings due to cognitive or physical limitations, the staff must conduct an assessment. This assessment can be based on:

• Observations of how the resident previously managed their belongings.
• Input from family members or caregivers who are familiar with the resident’s habits and preferences.
• The resident’s history, which may indicate whether they preferred to take care of their own items or required assistance.

Coding Instructions: The coding for MDS Item F0800B depends on whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preferences for caring for personal belongings. The coding options are:

• 0 - No: No staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preferences for caring for personal belongings.
• 1 - Yes: A staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preferences for caring for personal belongings.

Example Scenario: If the resident is unable to communicate their preferences and staff assess that the resident prefers to organize their toiletries or keep certain personal items in a specific way based on past behavior or family input, you would code F0800B as 1 - Yes. If no assessment was made to determine the resident’s preferences, you would code F0800B as 0 - No.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Thorough Assessment: When conducting the assessment, ensure that staff consider all available information, including observations, the resident’s known routines, and input from family members. This ensures that the resident’s personal belongings are managed in a way that aligns with their past preferences.

Documentation: Clearly document the sources used to determine the resident’s preferences for caring for personal belongings. If family members provide information or if past records are used, this should be noted in the resident’s care plan.

Communication: Share the results of the staff assessment with the care team to ensure that the resident’s preferences for caring for personal belongings are respected and integrated into their daily care routine.

Training: Provide training to staff on the importance of respecting residents’ preferences, even when residents are unable to communicate them directly. Encourage staff to be observant and responsive to the resident’s needs, ensuring that personal belongings are handled with care.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item F0800B is essential for assessing whether residents' preferences for caring for their personal belongings are respected when they are unable to communicate these preferences. Conducting this staff assessment and accurately coding the item helps ensure that residents' dignity and autonomy are preserved, even in situations where they cannot express their needs directly.

Click here to see a detailed Step-by-Step 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 F0800B: "Staff Assessment - Caring for Personal Belongings" 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 item within MDS 3.0. Additionally, this guide refrains from handling personal patient data and does not provide medical or legal advice.