You asked for the state law addressing staff training requirements for Alzheimer's special care units.

The law requires each Alzheimer's special care unit or program to annually provide Alzheimer's and dementia- specific training to all licensed and registered direct care staff and nurse's aides who provide direct patient care to residents in the unit or program. The training must include (1) at least eight hours of dementia-specific training which must be completed within six months of the date of employment followed by at least three hours of such training annually afterward and (2) at least two hours of annual training in pain recognition and administration of pain management techniques for direct care staff (CGS § 19a-562a as amended by PAs 07-34 and 07-252).

The law also requires Alzheimer's special care units or programs annually to provide at least one hour of Alzheimer's and dementia-specific training to all unlicensed and unregistered staff, except nurse's aides. The training must be completed within six months of the date of employment for such staff hired after October 1, 2007 (CGS § 19a-562a as amended by PAs 07-34 and 07-252).

The law defines an “Alzheimer's special care unit or program” as any nursing facility, residential care home, assisted living facility, adult congregate living facility, adult day care center, hospice, or adult foster home that locks, secures, segregates, or provides a special program or unit for residents with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other similar disorder. The unit or program must be one that prevents or limits a resident's access outside the designated or separated area or advertises or markets itself as providing specialized care or services for those with Alzheimer's disease or dementia (CGS § 19a-562 as amended by PA 07-252).

JK:ts