SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 48
(By Senators Prezioso, Unger, Bowman, Oliverio, McCabe, Dempsey,
Kessler, Ross, Guills, Love, Jenkins, Minard,
Bailey, Plymale,
Facemyer, Minear, Weeks, Helmick, Snyder, Sprouse, Boley, Sharpe,
McKenzie, Rowe, Caldwell and Hunter)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
training and educational 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 percent of all residents in long-
term care facilities suffer from Alzheimer's disease or related
dementias; and
Whereas, 400,000 West Virginia residents will begin reaching
the age of greatest risk for Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias in 2011; and
Whereas, Studies find annual rates of turnover among long-term
care staff range from 45 to 100 percent and job vacancy rates of 11
to 20 percent, with providers spending from $1,400 to $4,300 for
each worker replaced; 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
Whereas, When current certified nursing assistant training
requirements were adopted by the Legislature in the late 1980s,
they were appropriate for the physically frail population in
long-term care facilities; yet now, the long-term care population
is much more cognitively impaired; 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 prevention or management of challenging behaviors
in persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; and
Whereas, A study of these educational and training needs would
address one component of the broader long-term care workforce issue
by providing the workforce with skills and knowledge that better
suit the challenges of working with patients suffering from
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the training and educational needs related to
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in medical adult day care
centers, nursing homes, assisted living residences and residential
care communities; 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 be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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