2016 Minnesota Statutes

144D.065 TRAINING IN DEMENTIA CARE REQUIRED.

(a) If a housing with services establishment registered under this chapter has a special program or special care unit for residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias or advertises, markets, or otherwise promotes the establishment as providing services for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, whether in a segregated or general unit, employees of the establishment and of the establishment's arranged home care provider must meet the following training requirements:

(1) supervisors of direct-care staff must have at least eight hours of initial training on topics specified under paragraph (b) within 120 working hours of the employment start date, and must have at least two hours of training on topics related to dementia care for each 12 months of employment thereafter;

(2) direct-care employees must have completed at least eight hours of initial training on topics specified under paragraph (b) within 160 working hours of the employment start date. Until this initial training is complete, an employee must not provide direct care unless there is another employee on site who has completed the initial eight hours of training on topics related to dementia care and who can act as a resource and assist if issues arise. A trainer of the requirements under paragraph (b), or a supervisor meeting the requirements in clause (1), must be available for consultation with the new employee until the training requirement is complete. Direct-care employees must have at least two hours of training on topics related to dementia for each 12 months of employment thereafter;

(3) staff who do not provide direct care, including maintenance, housekeeping, and food service staff, must have at least four hours of initial training on topics specified under paragraph (b) within 160 working hours of the employment start date, and must have at least two hours of training on topics related to dementia care for each 12 months of employment thereafter; and

(4) new employees may satisfy the initial training requirements by producing written proof of previously completed required training within the past 18 months.

(b) Areas of required training include:

(1) an explanation of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders;

(2) assistance with activities of daily living;

(3) problem solving with challenging behaviors; and

(4) communication skills.

(c) The establishment shall provide to consumers in written or electronic form a description of the training program, the categories of employees trained, the frequency of training, and the basic topics covered. This information satisfies the disclosure requirements of section 325F.72, subdivision 2, clause (4).

(d) Housing with services establishments not included in paragraph (a) that provide assisted living services under chapter 144G must meet the following training requirements:

(1) supervisors of direct-care staff must have at least four hours of initial training on topics specified under paragraph (b) within 120 working hours of the employment start date, and must have at least two hours of training on topics related to dementia care for each 12 months of employment thereafter;

(2) direct-care employees must have completed at least four hours of initial training on topics specified under paragraph (b) within 160 working hours of the employment start date. Until this initial training is complete, an employee must not provide direct care unless there is another employee on site who has completed the initial four hours of training on topics related to dementia care and who can act as a resource and assist if issues arise. A trainer of the requirements under paragraph (b) or supervisor meeting the requirements under paragraph (a), clause (1), must be available for consultation with the new employee until the training requirement is complete. Direct-care employees must have at least two hours of training on topics related to dementia for each 12 months of employment thereafter;

(3) staff who do not provide direct care, including maintenance, housekeeping, and food service staff, must have at least four hours of initial training on topics specified under paragraph (b) within 160 working hours of the employment start date, and must have at least two hours of training on topics related to dementia care for each 12 months of employment thereafter; and

(4) new employees may satisfy the initial training requirements by producing written proof of previously completed required training within the past 18 months.

History:

2003 c 37 s 3; 2006 c 282 art 19 s 12; 2014 c 291 art 6 s 19