Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-70.30 - Dementia-specific education for program personnel

(1) All personnel employed by or contracting with a dementia-specific program shall receive a minimum of eight hours of dementia-specific education and training within 30 days of either employment or the beginning date of the contract, as applicable.

(2) The dementia-specific education or training shall include, at a minimum, the following:

a. An explanation of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders;

b. The program's specialized dementia care philosophy and program;

c. Skills for communicating with persons with dementia;

d. Skills for communicating with family and friends of persons with dementia;

e. An explanation of family issues such as role reversal, grief and loss, guilt, relinquishing the care-giving role, and family dynamics;

f. The importance of planned and spontaneous activities;

g. Skills in providing assistance with instrumental activities of daily living;

h. The importance of the service plan and social history information;

i. Skills in working with challenging participants;

j. Techniques for simplifying, cueing, and redirecting;

k. Staff support and stress reduction; and

l. Medication management and nonpharmacological interventions.

(3) All personnel employed by or contracting with a dementia-specific program shall receive a minimum of two hours of dementia-specific continuing education annually. Direct-contact personnel shall receive a minimum of eight hours of dementia-specific continuing education annually.

(4) An employee or contractor who provides documentation of completion of a dementia-specific education or training program within the past 12 months shall be exempt from the education and training requirement of subrule 70.30(1).

(5) Dementia-specific training shall include hands-on training and may include any of the following: classroom instruction. Web-based training, and case studies of participants in the program.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-70.30

ARC 8177B, lAB 9/23/09, effective 1/1/10