In Louisiana, regulations mandate specific dementia training for staff in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and adult residential care providers to ensure appropriate care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Nursing Facilities: According to Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:2200.2, all nursing home employees must receive dementia training informed by evidence-based care practices.
- Alzheimer’s Special Care Units:
- Direct Care Staff: Must complete at least 8 hours of dementia-specific training within 90 days of employment and 5 hours annually thereafter. Training includes an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, communication strategies, behavior management, promoting independence in activities of daily living (ADLs), and understanding family dynamics.
- Regular Contact Staff: Required to obtain at least 4 hours of dementia-specific training within 90 days of employment and 1 hour annually. Focus areas are an overview of dementias and communication with affected individuals.
- Incidental Contact Staff: Receive general written information on interacting with residents with dementia.
Non-Special Care Units:
- Direct Care Staff: Must obtain 4 hours of dementia training within 90 days of employment and 2 hours annually thereafter.
- Regular Contact Staff: Required to complete 4 hours of dementia-specific training within 90 days of employment and 1 hour annually, covering an overview of dementias and communication techniques.
- Incidental Contact Staff: Provided with general written information on interacting with residents with dementia.
- These requirements are detailed in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:2200.2.
Justia Law
Adult Residential Care Providers: Per Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:2200.3, employees of adult residential care providers licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health must undergo dementia training based on evidence-based care practices.
Alzheimer’s Special Care Units:
- Direct Face-to-Face Care Staff: Required to complete at least 8 hours of dementia-specific training within 90 days of employment and 8 hours annually. Training encompasses an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, communication strategies, behavior management, promoting independence in ADLs, and understanding family issues.
- Regular Contact Staff: Must obtain at least 4 hours of dementia-specific training within 90 days of employment and 2 hours annually, focusing on an overview of dementias and communication techniques.
- Incidental Contact Staff: Receive general written information on interacting with residents with dementia.
Non-Special Care Units:
- Direct Face-to-Face Care Staff: Required to obtain at least 2 hours of dementia-specific training annually, including an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and communication strategies.
- These provisions are outlined in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:2200.3.
Justia Law
Approved Dementia Training: The Louisiana Department of Health mandates that dementia training curricula be evidence-based. The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is designated to review and approve such curricula to ensure compliance with legislative requirements. Facilities must utilize approved training programs to fulfill statutory obligations.
Louisiana Department of Health
The Louisiana Alzheimer’s dementia training requirements underscore Louisiana’s commitment to enhancing the quality of care for individuals with dementia in long-term care settings.
Regulation: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:2200.2 (2008)
Justice in Aging
