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Staff Training Requirements

Exceptional and comprehensive care for our residents is dependent upon the experience, education, training, and ethics of the staff we entrust with their daily care. We provide training to all of our staff that goes above and beyond the regulatory requirements with advanced training and education that focus on preparing our staff for managing the diverse challenges of working with moderate-to-severe cognitive impairments, and certification requirements in advanced dementia care.

New Employee Orientation Training and Education

All of our new employees, regardless of their position, are required to complete a minimum of (20) hours of orientation that adequately orients them to current residents, facility policies, procedures, and daily operations. Orientation training and education will include, but is not limited to the following topics:

  • Resident rights; 

  • Fire safety and emergency evacuation; 

  • Resident emergency response procedures, such as the Heimlich maneuver, accidents, police or ambulance contact, and first aid; 

  • Policies and procedures regarding mandatory reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; 

  • Respectful and effective interactions with residents;

  • Infection control measures, including, but not limited to hand washing, handling of linens, maintaining a clean facility, blood borne pathogens, and universal precautions;

  • General supervision and care of residents; 

  • Health monitoring of chronic health conditions; 

  • Medication management; and

  • Designated shift supervisors and direct care staff will also complete the essentiALZ® training developed to educate them on evidence-based strategies that focus on person-centered Dementia Care through the Alzheimer’s Association Training and Certification program.

Annual Training and Education

All of our current staff are required to complete a minimum of (12) hours of general in-service training and education of which includes, but may not be limited to the following topics:

  • Resident rights;

  • Fire safety and emergency evacuation;

  • Resident emergency response procedures, such as the Heimlich maneuver, accidents, police or ambulance contact and first aid;

  • Policies and procedures regarding mandatory reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; Respectful and effective interaction with residents;

  • Infection control measures, including, but not limited to hand washing, handling of linens, maintaining a clean facility, blood borne pathogens, and universal precautions;

  • General supervision and care of residents;

  • Health monitoring of chronic health conditions;

  • Individualized management of behavioral interventions and modification strategies; 

  • Individualized health service plans; and

  • Medication management.

 

Shift supervisors are responsible for managing medications on their shift. Supervisors designated to manage medications are required to complete facility developed training and educational training, pass a written certification assessment, and be certified by the Director of Nursing and Administrator after a supervised assessment of their medication management capabilities for a minimum of (30) days. 

Annual Memory Care Training and Education

Our shift supervisors and direct care support staff are also required to complete an additional (12) hours of annual training and continuing education that is specific to caring for individuals living with advancing cognitive impairments of which includes, but is not limited to the following core competencies of dementia care practice: 

  • Fundamentals of person-centered care;

  • Person-centered assessments and care planning;

  • Support services to maximize continual health and safety;

  • Understanding complex, transitional, and individualized care needs;

  • Maintaining a supportive and therapeutic living environment;

  • Understanding psychosocial needs;

  • Managing care for behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD);

  • Support with activities of daily living;

  • Recreational and life enrichment activities;

  • Medical management and health monitoring; and

  • Transitions in care.

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Examples of memory care training and educational subject matter includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Dementia and Alzheimer’s;

  • Approaches to care; 

  • Addressing personal care services;

  • Communication skills specific to memory loss;

  • The aging process;

  • Behavioral modification and individualized interventions;

  • Early warning signs of infections and acute status changes;

  • De-escalation techniques and conflict resolution;

  • Daily activity assessments;

  • Causes and prevention of falls (e.g., fall prevention strategies, root cause analysis training, fall investigation reports, etc.);

  • The effects of dehydration;

  • Strategies for maintaining adequate hydration and nutrition;

  • Assessing and maintaining skin integrity;

  • Managing incontinence;

  • Emergency response procedures;

  • Bathing and personal care;

  • Elimination patterns and schedules;

  • Life enrichment strategies;

  • Mental health, depression, and loneliness;

  • Environmental safety assessments;

  • Maintaining a therapeutic living environment; and 

  • Providing care with dignity and respect.

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