Arkansas has implemented detailed regulations mandating 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.
Training Requirements:
- Initial Training: All covered staff members hired on or after August 1, 2023, must complete dementia-specific training within 90 days of employment. Staff employed before this date who have not received equivalent training in the past 24 months must complete the training by October 30, 2023.
- Ongoing Support: Facilities are required to establish procedures for ongoing staff support regarding the care and treatment of persons with dementia. This includes on-site mentoring programs and other support mechanisms.
- Training Certification: Upon completion of initial training, facilities must issue a portable certificate to covered staff members that is valid across settings within the state.
Training Content:
- Basics of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
- Effective communication techniques.
- Strategies for managing challenging behaviors.
- Promoting safety and reducing risks, including wandering prevention.
- Supporting residents’ independence in activities of daily living (ADLs).
Regulation: These requirements are detailed in Arkansas Code § 20-10-2503.
Arkansas Department of Human Services
