Understanding and codingMDS 3.0 Item F0600: Primary Respondent for Daily and Activity Preferences

MDS 3.0 Item F0600: Primary Respondent for Daily and Activity Preferences

Introduction

Purpose: Understanding a resident’s preferences for daily routines and activities is vital for delivering person-centered care in long-term care settings. MDS Item F0600 identifies the primary respondent who provided the information about the resident’s daily and activity preferences in Section F of the MDS assessment. Knowing the source of this information helps ensure accuracy in care planning and honors the resident’s voice whenever possible.

What is MDS Item F0600?

Explanation: MDS Item F0600 is part of Section F: Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities. This item identifies whether the resident, a family member, or another representative provided the information regarding the resident’s preferences for daily routines and activities. The aim is to clarify who communicated the preferences outlined in the assessment, ensuring that the care team is aware of the resident’s ability to self-report and when a proxy was needed.

Guidelines for Completing and Coding MDS Item F0600

Conducting the Interview: Before coding MDS Item F0600, you must determine who provided the information about the resident’s preferences for daily routines and activities. There are three potential respondents:

• Resident: The resident communicated their preferences directly.
• Family or Significant Other: The resident’s family member, guardian, or another significant person provided the information.
• Staff Assessment: If the resident is unable to communicate their preferences and no family member or significant other is available, staff observations and assessments are used to document preferences.

Coding Instructions: Choose the code that best represents who provided the information for Section F:

• 1 - Resident: The resident is capable of expressing their preferences and provided the information directly.
• 2 - Family or Significant Other: The information was gathered from a family member, legal guardian, or another significant individual familiar with the resident’s preferences.
• 3 - Staff Assessment: Staff assessed the resident’s preferences based on their observations or knowledge of the resident, as the resident was unable to communicate, and no family or significant other was available.

Example Scenario: If the resident is able to communicate their daily routine preferences, such as preferred wake-up time and favorite activities, code F0600 as 1 - Resident. If a family member provides the information on the resident’s behalf, code F0600 as 2 - Family or Significant Other. If the resident is unable to communicate their preferences and staff assess based on observations, code F0600 as 3 - Staff Assessment.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Accurate Identification: Ensure that the correct primary respondent is identified. Whenever possible, the resident should be the primary respondent, as their preferences are central to person-centered care. If a family member or guardian is providing the information, document why the resident is unable to self-report.

Communication: Communicate with the care team to verify who provided the information. If staff assessments are used, ensure the team has discussed the resident’s daily and activity preferences based on the resident’s known habits and routines.

Documentation: Record the source of the information clearly. If the resident is unable to provide input and a family member is unavailable, document the staff assessment thoroughly to explain how the preferences were determined.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item F0600 helps identify the primary respondent who provided the information about a resident’s daily and activity preferences. Correctly identifying the source ensures that the resident’s preferences are accurately documented and respected in their care plan, supporting a person-centered approach in long-term care.

Click here for 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-4.

Disclaimer

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item F0600: "Primary Respondent for Daily and Activity Preferences" 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.