Source anchor
CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1 is the governed baseline currently attached to this lookup item.
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Interview for Activity Preferences
Item Rationale
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Answer Codes
No answer codes are defined for this item. This item may use a check-all or numeric entry format.
What this item is
Item Rationale
When to use it
Use this item when the facility is completing content tied to Section F and needs to stay anchored to v1.20.1.
Reminders
- Current source status: Published.
- Item locator: Manual page F-9
- CMS exact locator: Manual page F-9
- This item does not yet have governed answer rows attached.
Source awareness
This page is grounded in CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1. Review the exact text and locators before treating the item as final reference content.
Source & Review
Manual
CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1
Status
Published
Effective start
2025-10-01
Item locator
Manual page F-9
CMS exact locator
Manual page F-9
Full CMS Text
Item Rationale
Health-related Quality of Life
Activities are a way for individuals to establish meaning in their lives, and the need for enjoyablefor enjoyable activities and pastimes does not change on admission to a nursing home. A lack of opportunity to engage in meaningful and enjoyable activities can resultin boredom, depression, and behavior disturbances. Individuals vary in the activities they prefer, reflecting unique personalitiespast interests, perceived environmental constraints, religious and cultural background, and changingan d changingand changingphysical and mental abilities.
Planning for Care
These questions will be useful for designing individualized care plans that facilitate residents’ participation in activities they find meaningful. Preferences may change over time and extend beyond those included here. Therefore,the assessment of activity preferences is intended as a first step in an ongoing informal dialogueinformal dialogue between the care provider and resident. As with daily routines, responses may provide insights into perceived functional, emotional, and sensory support needs.
Coding Instructions
See Coding Instructions on page F-5. Coding approach is identical to that for daily preferences.
Coding Tips and Special Populations
See Coding Tips on page F-5. Coding tips include those for daily preferences. Include Braille and or audio recorded materialwhen codingwhen codingitems in F0500A. Interviewing Tips and Techniques See Interview Tips and Techniques on page F-6. Coding tips and techniques are identical to those for daily preferences.
DEFINITIONS
READ Script, Braille, or audio recorded written material. NEWS News about local, state, national, or international current events. KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS Stay informed by reading, watching, or listening. NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES Any type, such as journalistic, professional, and trade publications in script, Braille, or audio recorded format. Examples for F0500A, How Important Is It to You to Have Books (Including Braille and Audio-recorded Format), Newspapers, and Magazines to Read?
1. Resident answers, “Reading is very important to me.”
Coding: F0500A would be coded 1, very important.
2. Resident answers, “They make the print so small these days. I guess they are just trying to
save money.” Interviewer replies, “The print is small. Would you say that having books, newspapers, and magazines to read is very important, somewhat important, not very important, not important at all, or that it is important but you can’t do it because the print is so small?” Resident answers: “It would be important, but I can’t do it because of the print.”
Coding: F0500A would be coded 5, important, but can’t do or no choice.
Example for F0500B, How Important Is It to You to Listen to Music You Like?
1. Resident answers, “It’s not important, because all we have in here is TV. They keep it blaring
all day long.” Interviewer echoes, “You’ve told me it’s not important because all you have is a TV. Would you say it’s not very important or not important at all to you to listen to music you like while you are here? Or are you saying that it’s important, but you can’t do it because you don’t have a radio or CD player?” Resident responds, “Yeah. I’d enjoy listening to some jazz if I could get a radio.”
Coding: F0500B would be coded 5, important, but can’t do or no choice.
Examples for F0500C, How Important Is It to You to Be Around Animals Such as Pets?
1. Resident answers, “It’s very important for me NOT to be around animals. You get hair all
around and I might inhale it.” Coding: F0500C would be coded 4, not important at all.
2. Resident answers, “I’d love to go home and be around my own animals. I’ve taken care of
them for years and they really need me.” Interviewer probes, “You said you’d love to be at home with your own animals. How important is it to you to be around pets while you’re staying here? Would you say it is [points to card] very important, somewhat important, not very important, not important at all, or is it important, but you can’t do it or don’t have a choice about it.” Resident responds, “Well, it’s important to me to be around my own dogs, but I can’t be around them. I’d say important but can’t do.”
Coding: F0500C would be coded 5, Important, but can’t do or no choice.
Rationale: Although the resident has access to therapeutic dogs brought to the nursing
home, they do not have access to the type of pet that is important to them. Example for F0500D, How Important Is It to You to Keep Up with the News?
1. Resident answers, “Well, they are all so liberal these days, but it’s important to hear what
they are up to.” Interviewer clarifies, “You think it is important to hear the news. Would you say it is [points to card] very important, somewhat important, or it’s important but you can’t do it or have no choice?” Resident responds, “I guess you can mark me somewhat important on that one.”
Coding: F0500D would be coded 2, somewhat important.
Example for F0500E, How Important Is It to You to Do Things with Groups of People?
1. Resident answers, “I’ve never really liked groups of people. They make me nervous.”
Interviewer echoes and clarifies, “You’ve never liked groups. To help us plan your activities, would you say that while you’re here, doing things with groups of people is very important, somewhat important, not very important, not important at all, or would it be important to you but you can’t do it because you feel nervous about it?” Resident responds, “At this point I’d say it’s not very important.”
Coding: F0500E would be coded 3, not very important.
Examples for F0500F, How Important Is It to You to Do Your Favorite Activities?
1. Resident answers, “Well, it’s very important, but I can’t really do my favorite activities while
I’m here. At home, I used to like to play board games, but you need people to play and make it interesting. I also like to sketch, but I don’t have the supplies I need to do that here. I’d say important but no choice.” Coding: F0500F would be coded 5, important, but can’t do or no choice.
2. Resident answers, “I like to play bridge with my bridge club.”
Interviewer probes, “Oh, you like to play bridge with your bridge club. How important is it to you to play bridge while you are here in the nursing home?” Resident responds, “Well, I’m just here for a few weeks to finish my rehabilitation. It’s not very important.” Coding: F0500F would be coded 3, not very important. Example for F0500G, How Important Is It to You to Go Outside to Get Fresh Air When the Weather Is Good (Includes Less Temperate Weather if Resident Has Appropriate Clothing)?
1. Resident answers, “They have such a nice garden here. It’s very important to me to go out
there.” Coding: F0500G would be coded 1, very important. Examples for F0500H, How Important Is It to You to Participate in Religious Services or Practices?
1. Resident answers, “I’m Jewish. I’m Orthodox, but they
have Reform services here. So I guess it’s not important.” Interviewer clarifies, “You’re Orthodox, but the services offered here are Reform. While you are here, how important would it be to you to be able to participate in religious services? Would you say it is very important, somewhat important, not very important, not important at all, or would it be important to you but you can’t or have no choice because they don’t offer Orthodox services.” Resident responds, “It’s important for me to go to Orthodox services if they were offered, but they aren’t. So, can’t do or no choice.” Coding: F0500I would be coded 5, important, but can’t do or no choice.
2. Resident answers “My pastor sends taped services to me
that I listen to in my room on Sundays. I don’t participate in the services here.” Interviewer probes, “You said your pastor sends you taped services. Would you say that it is very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not important at all, to you that you are able to listen to those tapes from your pastor?” Resident responds, “Oh, that’s very important.”
Coding: F0500I would be coded 1, very important.
DEFINITIONS
OUTSIDE Any outdoor area in the proximity of the facility, including patio, porch, balcony, sidewalk, courtyard, or garden. PARTICIPATE IN RELIGIOUS SERVICES Any means of taking part in religious services or practices, such as listening to services on the radio or television, attending services in the facility or in the community, or private prayer or religious study. RELIGIOUS PRACTICES Rituals associated with various religious traditions or faiths, such as washing rituals in preparation for prayer, following kosher dietary laws, honoring holidays and religious festivals, and participating in communion or confession.
Matrix Applicability
Nursing Home Subsets
NC - Comprehensive
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
NQ - Quarterly
Marker: s
state optional
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
NP - PPS 5 Day
Marker: s
state optional
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
Program and Policy Use
Care Area Triggers
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Stand Alone Assessments
OBRA Admission A=01, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4
OBRA Annual / Sig Chg A=03, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0 A= 04, B=99, F=99, G=^, H=0
Marker: x
applies
Locator: MDS Item Matrix v1.20.1 v4