2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 40 Public health and safety :: RS 40:2162 Dementia training

§2162.  Dementia training

NOTE:  §2162 repealed by Acts 2009, No. 381, §3, eff. July 1, 2010.

A.  For the purposes of this Section, "Alzheimer's special care unit" means any residential care/assisted living facility that segregates or provides a special program or special unit for residents with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or related disorder so as to prevent or limit access by a resident to areas outside the designated or separate areas or that advertises, markets, or otherwise promotes the community as providing specialized Alzheimer/dementia care services.

B.  All persons employed by an adult residential care facility shall be trained, in accordance with the provisions of this Section, in dementia training issues and practices that include or are informed by evidence-based care practices.

C.  Training requirements for employees of an adult residential care facility who provide care to a resident in an Alzheimer's special care unit shall be the following:

(1)  Employees who provide direct face-to-face care to residents shall be required to obtain at least eight hours of dementia specific training within ninety days of employment and eight hours of dementia specific training annually.  The training shall include an overview of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, communicating with persons with dementia, behavior management, promoting independence in activities of daily living, and understanding and dealing with family issues.

(2)  Employees who have regular contact with residents but who do not provide direct face-to-face care shall be required to obtain at least four hours of dementia specific training within ninety days of employment and two hours of dementia training annually.  This training shall include an overview of dementias and communicating with persons with dementia.

(3)  Employees who have only incidental contact with residents shall receive general written information provided by the facility on interacting with residents with dementia.

D.  Training requirements for employees of an adult residential care facility who do not work with residents in an Alzheimer's special care unit shall be the following:

(1)  Employees who provide direct face-to-face care to residents shall be required to obtain at least two hours of dementia specific training annually.  This training shall include an overview of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and communicating with persons with dementia.

(2)  All other employees shall receive general written information provided by the facility on interacting with residents with dementia.

E.  Any dementia specific training received in a nursing or nursing assistant program approved by the Department of Health and Hospitals or the Department of Social Services may be used to fulfill the training hours required pursuant to this Section.

F.  By April 1, 2009, the Department of Social Services shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, necessary to implement this Section.  Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to the qualifications of the training curriculum and appropriate penalties for violations of the training requirements. The department shall consult with and seek input from the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force and the Department of Health and Hospitals in the promulgation of such rules and regulations.

Acts 2008, No. 571, §1, eff. June 30, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 381, §3, eff. July 1, 2010.