RSA 151:48 · Initial and Continuing Training in Dementia Required

151:48 Initial and Continuing Training in Dementia Required. –
I. Facilities and programs shall provide initial training to:
(a) All covered employed staff members hired on or after February 1, 2020, who shall complete initial training within 90 days of the commencement of employment.
(b) All covered employed staff members who were employed prior to the date under subparagraph (a) and who have not received equivalent training; such training shall be completed within 6 months of that date.
(c) Contracted staff members, at the expense of the consultant, contractor, or subcontractor, unless the consultant, contractor, or subcontractor provides documentation of successful completion of an evaluation equivalent to that required of employed staff members in paragraph V.
II. Each facility or program shall establish a system for ongoing onsite support, supervision, and mentoring for its staff with regard to the treatment and care of persons with dementia.
III. For covered direct service staff members and covered administrative staff members, at a minimum, the curriculum used for the initial training shall be consistent with recommendations from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Institute for Health's National Institute on Aging or the latest nationwide Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and, at a minimum, cover the following topics:
(a) Alzheimer's disease and dementia;
(b) Person-centered care;
(c) Assessment and care planning;
(d) Activities of daily living; and
(e) Dementia related behaviors and communication.
IV. For other covered staff members, training shall include, at a minimum, communication issues related to dementia.
V. Initial dementia training shall be considered complete only after the staff member has demonstrated related competency.
VI. No training shall be required for ancillary staff members.
Source. 2019, 346:366, eff. Jan. 1, 2020. 2020, 2:2, eff. Feb. 6, 2020.