Staff in the dementia care community
Experts suggest that there are currently somewhere around 5.5 million Americans of all ages who suffer from Dementia related diseases. These conditions require very knowledgeable medical personnel due to the increased needs the person may need. Dementia and like illnesses can cause loss of motor function, memory impairment and even at times cause negative behaviors that affect others around them. When deciding to have a specialized memory care program in your ALF the Minnesota ALLHRD has issued the following regulation for facilities to abide by:
144G.83 ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES WITH DEMENTIA CARE.
Subdivision 1.General.
(a) An assisted living facility with dementia care must provide residents with dementia-trained staff who have been instructed in the person-centered care approach. All direct care staff assigned to care for residents with dementia must be specially trained to work with residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
(b) Only staff trained as specified in subdivisions 2 and 3 shall be assigned to care for dementia residents.
(c) Staffing levels must be sufficient to meet the scheduled and unscheduled needs of residents. Staffing levels during nighttime hours shall be based on the sleep patterns and needs of residents.
(d) In an emergency situation when trained staff are not available to provide services, the facility may assign staff who have not completed the required training. The particular emergency situation must be documented and must address:
(1) the nature of the emergency;
(2) how long the emergency lasted; and
(3) the names and positions of staff that provided coverage.
Subd. 2.Staffing requirements.
(a) The licensee must ensure that staff who provide support to residents with dementia can demonstrate a basic understanding and ability to apply dementia training to the residents’ emotional and unique health care needs using person-centered planning delivery. Direct care dementia-trained staff and other staff must be trained on the topics identified during the expedited rulemaking process. These requirements are in addition to the licensing requirements for training.
(b) Failure to comply with paragraph (a) or subdivision 1 shall result in a fine under section 144G.31.
Subd. 3.Supervising staff training.
Persons providing or overseeing staff training must have experience and knowledge in the care of individuals with dementia, including:
(1) two years of work experience related to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, or in health care, gerontology, or another related field; and
(2) completion of training equivalent to the requirements in this section and successfully passing a skills competency or knowledge test required by the commissioner.
Subd. 4.Preservice and in-service training.
Preservice and in-service training may include various methods of instruction, such as classroom style, web-based training, video, or one-to-one training. The licensee must have a method for determining and documenting each staff person’s knowledge and understanding of the training provided. All training must be documented.
Top Takeaways:
- (a) An assisted living facility with dementia care must provide residents with dementia-trained staff who have been instructed in the person-centered care approach. All direct care staff assigned to care for residents with dementia must be specially trained to work with residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
A person-centered approach is the tailoring of care based upon the residents’ individual capabilities and needs. You should always promote the unique individuality that residents with dementia have. They require staff that is patient and willing to constantly redirect and “live in their world”.
- (c) Staffing levels must be sufficient to meet the scheduled and unscheduled needs of residents. Staffing levels during nighttime hours shall be based on the sleep patterns and needs of residents.
While there is no specific number for how many staff are required to care for residents in a secure dementia community you should always staff based upon the needs of your residents. Cutting corners with staff numbers in the dementia care community is a sure-fire way to find yourself in trouble with ALLHRD.