How often should an LTCF InterRAI assessment be updated?

• A. At admission and periodically (e.g., quarterly) or with significant health status changes, per facility policy
• B. Only during annual licensing audits
• C. Every month regardless of health status
• D. Only when a resident requests an assessment

Answer: (A)

Regular updates to the InterRAI LTCF assessment are needed to keep a resident’s care plan aligned with their current condition. The best approach is to complete it at admission to establish a baseline, then update it periodically (commonly quarterly) or whenever there is a significant change in health status, following the facility’s policy. This ensures the information used for care planning and resource allocation stays accurate and supports timely responses to changes in risk or need. Waiting for annual audits, updating monthly without a clear trigger, or doing updates only at the resident’s request would miss important clinical and regulatory needs.