New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS › Chapter 27 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING ROOMING AND BOARDING HOUSES › Subchapter 13 - ADDITIONAL RULES REGARDING PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR RELATED DISORDERS OR OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA › Section 5:27-13.3 - Training and staffing requirements

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) All staff who are
				employed in the facility and are regularly in direct contact with residents shall
				complete the applicable courses and training programs set forth in (a)1 through 4
				below and approved by the Bureau, at such time as such courses and training programs
				are available, in the care of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders
				and other forms of dementia. Any such course shall provide all information
				concerning these diseases and accepted methods of care and treatment with which the
				Bureau shall deem it appropriate that persons providing care be familiar.
1. All operators shall obtain certification for
				having successfully completed the basic boarding home training course (75 hours)
				given by the Department of Human Services. All other employees who are regularly in
				direct contact with residents shall successfully complete the home health aide
				course (75 hours) given by a home health agency approved by the State Board of
				Nursing.
2. All employees who are
				regularly in direct contact with residents shall complete a five-day course given by
				a Registered Nurse or other professional approved by the Bureau which shall include
				orientation to the facility and specific training regarding Alzheimer's disease. The
				course shall be divided as follows:
i. Day One:
				Mission; policies and procedures; rules for residents; rules for staff; scheduling
				of meals and activities; documentation requirements; residents' rights;
				confidentiality; and ethical behavior;
ii. Day Two: Safety issues; preventing falls and
				accidents; fire training and evacuation; infection controls and universal
				precautions; and OSHA, Right-to-Know and related issues;
iii. Day Three: Didactic information concerning
				Alzheimer's disease; audiovisuals; role plays; definition of dementia; associated
				behaviors of dementia (such as rummaging, wandering, impulsiveness, etc.);
				distinctive characteristics of individuals with dementia; and use of Assisted Living
				University or similar tapes;
iv. Days
				Four and Five: Structured observation at a dementia-specific adult day care program
				or at a dementia unit of an assisted living facility; trainees to observe a
				multidisciplinary team in action with clients with dementia and to be given
				structured worksheets to complete; and trainees to participate in discussion
				sessions with their supervisor each day.
3. During the first 30 days on the job, a new
				employee shall be paired with an employee with more than one year of work
				experience, so that there will be role-modeling and instant feedback for
				problem-solving.
4. Home health aides
				shall have a minimum of 12 hours per year of continuing education. This shall be
				accomplished through required monthly support group meetings with their peers and
				the supervising Registered Nurse or a social worker. The purpose of these meetings
				shall be to provide new information, shared information and validation of feelings
				for participants. Such meetings may be organized jointly for staff of more than one
				facility.