ABCs of Nursing Home Transition: An Orientation Manual for New Transition Facilitators

Purpose of the Manual

Many consumer-directed centers for independent living (CILs) have been providing the service of assisting individuals to relocate to the community from nursing homes and other institutions for some time. There is now a statutory requirement that CILs provide this service. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which created the Independent Living Services (ILS) and Centers for Independent Living (CIL) programs, was amended on July 22, 2014 by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) bringing about a number of changes to the IL program, including adding new core services that have a 'transition' component.

For purposes of this manual, services to support transition out of nursing homes is the primary focus; however, the transition process offered here has many steps that apply to moving out of various other institutions as well. Some other institutions might include correctional facilities, in-patient rehabilitation facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental health facilities, etc.

The independent living field is extremely well positioned to take on the task of transition as part of an 'official' core service. This manual contains tools and strategies the transition facilitator can use to conduct the fundamental tasks of the institutional transition process.