36-405.03. Memory care services standards; rules; staff training requirements; definition

(Eff. 7/1/25)

A. The director shall establish by rule standards for memory care services for assisted living facilities that are licensed to provide directed care services.

B. The director shall establish by rule minimum training standards for memory care services for staff and contractors who work in an assisted living facility that is licensed to provide directed care services. The training standards shall include a minimum of eight hours of initial memory care services training and four hours of annual continuing education. In addition to the eight hours of initial training, the training standards for assisted living facility managers shall include a minimum of four hours of memory care services training that is specifically for assisted living facility managers. The department shall approve the memory care services training programs, and the training programs shall provide staff and contractors who complete the training a certificate of completion that may be used to work at any assisted living facility that is licensed to provide directed care services. If a staff member or contractor has not worked at an assisted living facility that is licensed to provide directed care services for a period of twelve months, the person is required to complete the initial training within thirty days after the date of hire, rehire or returning to work.

C. An assisted living facility that is licensed to provide directed care services is required to provide to the department during an investigation or compliance survey documentation of staff training as prescribed in subsection B of this section.  Failure to provide complete staff training documentation shall be cited as a deficiency.

D. For the purposes of this section, "memory care services" means services that support individuals with dementia and other progressive and neurodegenerative brain disorders, including specialized environmental features, care planning, directed care services, medication administration services, specialized accommodations, activity programming or other services required by the department in rule.