Section 300.7050   Staffing

a)         The unit shall have a full-time unit director.

1)         The director may have other responsibilities, within the unit, in units with fewer than 40 residents.

2)         The unit director may support off-unit activities related to persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, such as providing training to facility staff, assessment of potential residents, counseling to potential residents and their families, and consultation/assessment/care planning for facility residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia who do not reside on the unit.

3)         The unit director shall have documented course work in dementia care and ability-centered care, and shall meet at least one of the following requirements:

A)        Have an associate's or a bachelor's degree and/or be a registered nurse and have at least one year of experience working with persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia; or

B)        Have a minimum of 5 years of experience working with persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, at least two years of which are management experience working with persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

4)         The unit director shall obtain at least 12 hours of continuing education every year, especially related to serving residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

b)         The unit shall have assigned, consistent staff.  There shall be enough staff to meet the scheduled and unscheduled needs of each resident, as defined in the care plan, taking into account the purpose of the setting, the severity of dementia, and the resident's physical abilities, behavior patterns, and social and medical needs.

c)         All staff who ever work on the unit (e.g., nurses, CNAs, housekeepers, social services and activities staff, and food service staff) shall receive at least four hours of dementia-specific orientation within the first 7 days of working on the unit.  This orientation shall include:

1)         Basic information about the nature, progression, and management of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia;

2)         Techniques for creating an environment that minimizes challenging behavior from residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia;

3)         Methods of identifying and minimizing safety risks to residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia; and

4)         Techniques for successful communication with individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

d)         Nurses, CNAs, and social service and activities staff who work on the unit at least 50 percent of the time that they work at the facility shall participate in a minimum of 12 additional hours of orientation within the first 45 days after employment, specifically related to the care of persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.  This orientation shall be defined in facility policies and procedures; shall be in a form of classroom, return demonstration, and mentoring; and shall define to new staff the elements contained in Section 300.7050(e)(1)-(10).

e)         Nurses, CNAs, and social services and activities staff who work on the unit at least 50 percent of the time that they work at the facility shall attend at least 12 hours of continuing education every year, specifically related to serving residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.  (Completion of the 12 hours of orientation in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section may be counted as continuing education for the year in which this orientation is completed.)  Topics shall include, but not be limited to:

1)         Promoting the philosophy of an ability-centered care framework;

2)         Promoting resident dignity, independence, individuality, privacy and choice;

3)         Resident rights and principles of self-determination;

4)         Medical and social needs of residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia;

5)         Assessing resident capabilities and developing and implementing services plans;

6)         Planning and facilitating activities appropriate for a resident with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia;

7)         Communicating with families and others interested in the resident;

8)         Care of elderly persons with physical, cognitive, behavioral, and social disabilities;

9)         Common psychotropics and their side effects; and

10)         Local community resources.

f)         Within 6 months after January 1, 2005, or within 6 months after hire, the facility administrator and director of nursing shall attend the orientation for staff who work on the unit at least 50 percent of the time in accordance with subsection (d).

g)         For each training requirement in this Section, staff shall be evaluated to determine if they have met or exceeded stated learning objectives.  Results shall be documented.

h)         Training requirements of this Section are in addition to requirements for nurse aide training.  Orientation requirements of this Section are in addition to regular staff orientation.

(Source:  Added at 28 Ill. Reg. 14623, effective October 20, 2004)