Dementia Care Training

Requirements for caregivers at Assisted Living and Residential Care Facilities

In 2017, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3359 related to long-term care. Section 25 of HB 3359 (now codified as ORS 443.433 and OAR 411-054-0070 (d)) focuses on pre-service and in-service dementia care training for direct caregivers who work in assisted living and residential care facilities. Rules to address this law are found in OAR 411-054-0070.

Training requirements

OAR 411-054-0070 sets forth the following dementia training requirements for assisted living and residential care facilities:

• Direct care staff must complete pre-service training on specific areas of dementia care and six hours of annual in-service dementia training.
• Pre-service training must include the following subjects:
• Education on the dementia disease process, including the progression of the disease, memory loss, psychiatric and behavioral symptoms;
• Techniques for understanding and managing symptoms, including but not limited to reducing the use of anti-psychotic medications for non-standard use;
• Strategies for addressing the social needs of persons with dementia and providing meaningful activities; and
• Information on addressing specific aspects of dementia care and ensuring the safety of residents with dementia, including but not limited to addressing pain, providing food and fluids; and preventing wandering and elopement.
• Facilities must ensure and document that all direct care staff have completed the required pre-service dementia care training. Training certificates are portable for two years, meaning direct care staff can show their training certificate to a new employer and it will count for training for two years from the time they completed the training and demonstrated competence. However, a new employer may accept the training or require new direct care staff to attend their dementia training.
• Each direct care staff must complete six hours of annual training on dementia care by the anniversary of their hire date.
• The dementia care training may be included in the required minimum of 12 hours of in-service training required for direct care staff within residential care and assisted living facilities.
• Dementia care training must reflect current standards for dementia care and be informed by the best evidence in the care and treatment of dementia.

Pre-approved trainings

Some trainings have been pre-approved.

• Pre-approved trainings do not need to be submitted for approval.
• The table below shows trainings that have been pre-approved for either pre-service or in-service education.