Senate Bill No. 236
(By Senators Prezioso, Hunter, Sharpe, Unger, Boley and Foster)
____________
[Introduced February 21, 2005; referred to the Committee
on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on
Finance.]
____________
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §16-5R-6, relating to
training requirements for providers in health facilities on
the subject of Alzheimer's disease.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-5R-6, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 5R. THE ALZHEIMER'S SPECIAL CARE STANDARDS ACT.
§16-5R-6. Quality Alzheimer's and dementia care training required.
(a) Any facility providing services to residents in a care
facility under the supervision of the licensed operator, including
adult day care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living
residences and residential care communities, shall provide training
to all staff, employees and contractors on Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.
(b) Training shall include a basic understanding of
dementias; communication approaches and techniques for use when
interacting with persons with Alzheimer's disease and related
dementia, prevention and management of behaviors common in persons
with Alzheimer's or a related dementia, and activities and
programming appropriate for these residents.
(c) Training curriculum shall include, at a minimum:
(1) Informational packets presented to and reviewed with
staff, employees and contractors upon their starting to work at a
facility; and
(2) Two hours per year of Alzheimer's disease and related
dementia training as part of staff continuing education
requirements.
_________
(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require basic training
in Alzheimer's and dementia in certain health care facilities.
§16-5R-6 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring
have been omitted.
)
_________
FINANCE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
On page two, section six, line two, by striking out the word
"Training" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "The training";
On page two, section six, line nine, by striking out the word
"Training" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "The training";
And,
On page one, by striking out the title and substituting
therefor a new title, to read as follows:
Senate Bill No. 236--A Bill to amend the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section,
designated §16-5R-6, relating to requiring care facilities to
provide training to all staff, employees and contractors on
Alzheimer's disease and related dementia; specifying training
components; and setting forth minimum standards for training
curriculum.