In Indiana, regulations mandate specific dementia care training for staff in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and long-term care facilities to ensure appropriate care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Special Care Units:
The Indiana Administrative Code (410 IAC 16.2-3.1) outlines requirements for facilities with specialized units:
- Director Qualifications: Must hold a degree in health care, mental health, or social services, or be a licensed health facility administrator. Require at least one year of experience with dementia or Alzheimer’s residents within the past five years. Obligated to complete 12 hours of dementia-specific training within three months of employment and six hours annually thereafter.
- Staff Training: Personnel assigned to these units must receive in-service training consistent with current Alzheimer’s and dementia care practices. These provisions are detailed in 410 IAC 16.2-3.1. (in.gov)
Nurse Aides:
The same code specifies training for nurse aides:
- Initial Training: Completion of a state-approved training program, including 30 hours of classroom instruction. Training areas encompass communication skills, infection control, safety procedures, and care of cognitively impaired residents.
- Ongoing Training: Six hours of dementia-specific training within six months of employment. Three hours of annual training thereafter. These requirements are outlined in 410 IAC 16.2-3.1-14. (in.gov)
Home Health Aides:
Indiana Code § 16-27-1.5-5 mandates:
- Initial Training: Six hours of approved dementia training within 60 days of employment for those providing care to individuals with Alzheimer’s or related cognitive disorders.
- Annual Training: Three hours of approved dementia training each year. These provisions are specified in Indiana Code § 16-27-1.5-5. (justia.com)
The Indiana dementia training requirements reflect Indiana’s commitment to enhancing the quality of care for individuals with dementia in long-term care settings.
Regulation: 410 Ind. Admin. Code 16.2-3.1-14 (2013)
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