HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 10
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Perdue, Amores,
Anderson, Armstead, Ashley, Azinger, Beach, Beane, Blair, Boggs,
Border, Browning, Butcher, Calvert, Campbell, Cann, Canterbury,
Caputo, Carmichael, Caruth, Craig, Crosier, DeLong, Doyle, Duke,
Ellem, Ennis, Evans, Ferrell, Fleischauer, Foster, Fragale,
Frederick, Frich, Hall, Hamilton, Hartman, Hatfield, Houston,
Howard, Hrutkay, Iaquinta, Kominar, Leach, Long, Louisos, Mahan,
Manuel, Martin, Mezzatesta, Michael, Morgan, Palumbo, Paxton,
Perry, Pethtel, Pino, Poling, Proudfoot, Renner, Romine,
Schadler, Schoen, Shaver, Shelton, Smirl, Sobonya, Spencer,
Stalnaker, Staton, Stemple, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller, Tabb,
Talbott, R. Thompson, R. M. Thompson, Trump, Tucker, Varner,
Wakim, Warner, Webb, Webster, H. White, Williams, Wright, Yeager
and Yost)
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
conduct a study to determine the training and education needs
related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in
medical adult day care centers, nursing homes, assisted living
residences and residential care communities.
Whereas, Today more than 50% of all residents in a long-term
care facility suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related
dementia; and
Whereas, In the late 1980's, when current certified nursing
assistants training requirements were adopted by the Legislature,
they were appropriate for the physically frail population in
long-term care facilities; yet today, 15 years later, the long-term
care population is much more cognitively impaired; and
Whereas, Education and training would respond to that changed population and the needs of staff who care for people with
Alzheimer's disease or related dementias; and
Whereas, Studies find annual rates of turnover among long-term
care staff range from 45% to more than 100%, and job vacancy rates
of 11% to 20% and providers spend from $1,400 to $4,300 for each
worker they have to replace; and
Whereas, The quality of care for residents suffers, as they
lose the continuity of care from familiar workers who know them and
have come to understand their needs, a loss that is particularly
acute for persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
And the workers who remain face frustration, added stress, injury
and accidents; and
Whereas, In addition, this legislation may begin to address one
component of the broader long-term care workforce issue by
providing workforce with skills and knowledge that better suits the
challenges they are faced with or the challenging behaviors they
must deal with daily; and
Whereas, Other states have dementia specific training
components that include a basic understanding of Alzheimer's
disease and related dementias; communication approaches and
techniques; and preventing or managing challenging behaviors in
persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; and
Whereas, Rarely does an illness take such a pervasive toll on families. Rarely does a disease impact so many lives in so many
ways; and
Whereas, In the year 2011, 400,000 West Virginia baby boomers
begin to reach the age of greatest risk for Alzheimer's disease;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance to conduct a study to determine the training
and education needs related to Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias in medical adult day care centers, nursing homes,
assisted living residences and residential care communities,
including a determination of the most efficient, cost effective
method of providing training and education to those who provide
care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias
who reside in this state; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2005, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation are
paid from the legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
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