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Tip Sheets
Dementia Training for Long-Term Care Staff
According to the Alzheimer’s
Association, the number of Minnesotans with Alzheimer’s
and related diseases is almost 100,000. It is estimated that
over half of the residents in nursing homes are diagnosed
with dementia.
Special training in dementia has been
found to improve the quality of care and increase consumer
satisfaction. Studies indicate that training: prevents
resident maltreatment and worker injuries (Goodridge, 1996);
promotes staff job satisfaction and reduces the number of
staff absences (Grant et. al., 1996); and, reduces staff
turnover (McCallion et. al., 1999; Austrom, 2000).
Consumer advocates and those who provide
care to people with dementia joined together in 2001 and
2003 to support legislation affecting those with dementia.
Minnesota law now requires that:
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housing with services (assisted living) owners that
market special services for people with dementia
provide written information to consumers about
their services
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nursing homes, housing with services, home care
agencies and adult day services providers that
identify themselves as providing dementia or memory
care must assure that their staff have received training
in the basics of dementia care and must provide
information to consumers on that training.
How do these laws help me?
The Office of Ombudsman for Older
Minnesotans has been working with consumers for more than 20
years. We have found that people who are most satisfied with
their long-term care services are those who visit facilities
and make comparison between residences and/or services
before making decisions. These new laws provide information
to help you in selecting long-term care services.
When I’m looking at housing with
services (HWS), what I should I pay attention to?
Minnesota law requires HWS buildings that
markets itself as providing memory care or special services
for people with dementia disclose specifics about their
programs. This disclosure must be given in writing to
each person or the person’s representative seeking to move
into the residence before an agreement to provide
services is arranged and must include the following
information:
-
philosophy of care;
-
criteria for determining who may reside in their
residence or special care unit;
-
how residents are assessed and service plan
established;
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staff credentials, duties and training in
dementia;
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building design and security features;
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involvement of families;
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types and frequency of programs available for
residents;
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fee schedules and
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a statement that residents will be given a 30-day
written notice prior to changes in fees.
The Office of Ombudsman for Older
Minnesotans, in collaboration with AARP Minnesota, has
developed a 23-page consumer brochure named Assisting
You with Assisted Living and is available by calling
the Office of Ombudsman at 1.800.657.3591. Ombudsman staff
is available also to help compare various long-term care
options.
What is required in dementia training?
Nursing homes, housing with services,
home care providers and adult day centers that market
themselves as providing specialized dementia or memory care
must give special training to staff and provide a written
description of the training program. Areas of required
training include:
-
an explanation of Alzheimer’s disease and related
disorders;
-
assistance with activities of daily living;
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problem solving with challenging behaviors;
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communication skills.
While state law does not require a
particular number of hours of training, these providers
must disclose the frequency of training as well as
the categories of employees who are trained.
For further information on long-term care,
contact the Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans
toll-free at 800-657-3591 or 651-431-2555.
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