California has established comprehensive regulations mandating dementia care training for staff in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), intermediate care facilities, and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs).
Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs): Under the Dementia Training Standards Act of 2001, codified in California Health and Safety Code § 1263, CNAs are subject to the following training requirements:
- Initial Training: CNAs employed by SNFs or intermediate care facilities must complete at least two hours of dementia-specific training as part of the facility’s orientation program. This training must be completed within the first 40 hours of employment.
- Ongoing Training: CNAs are required to participate in a minimum of five hours of dementia-specific in-service training annually.
Regulation: These provisions are outlined in California Health and Safety Code § 1263.
Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs): RCFEs that advertise or promote specialized care for residents with dementia must meet additional training requirements, as specified in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, § 87707:
- Direct Care Staff Training: Direct care staff must complete six hours of orientation specific to the care of residents with dementia within the first four weeks of employment. This orientation is separate from other training and focuses exclusively on dementia care.
Regulation: These requirements are detailed in Title 22, § 87707 of the California Code of Regulations.
The California dementia training requirements reflect the state’s commitment to enhancing the quality of care for individuals with dementia in long-term care settings.
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