Training requirements of Assisted Living Residence staff

Learn more about the training requirements for all Assisted Living Residence (ALR) staff.

Table of Contents

General Orientation

All staff and contracted providers must complete a general orientation that covers:

  • The idea of independent living in an ALR
  • Resident Bill of Rights
  • Elder abuse, financial abuse, neglect
  • Emergency procedures
  • Diseases such as AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis B
  • Infection control and sanitation
  • Communication skills
  • The aging process
  • Dementia
  • The employee's specific job requirements
  • Food safety

Orientation for staff working within special care residences

Along with completing the general orientation staff working within special care, residences must complete additional training on:

  • Communication skills 
  • Creating a therapeutic environment 
  • Understanding distress
  • Ability of residence to make decisions
  • Sexuality
  • Family issues 
  • Caregiver support

Ongoing in-service education and training

Ongoing training includes:

  • Ten hours per year of education and training about residence needs including two hours on the needs of residence with Alzhiermer's and dementia.
    • Employees working in special care residences must complete an additional four hours of training per year related to there residences needs.
    • Residence managers must complete an additional five hours of training regarding there responsibilities.
All employees and providers will receive ongoing training on the following topics;
  • Behavioral interventions such as handling aggressive behavior and de-escalation techniques
  • Defining and reporting elder abuse
  • Communication and teamwork
  • The aging process 
  • Causes and prevention of falls
  • The effects of dehydration
  • Alzheimer's 
  • Conflict resolution
  • Resident rights
  • Medication management
  • Death and dying
  • Maintaining skin integrity
  • Nutrition
  • Emergency procedures

Personal care services provider training requirements

ALR staff and contractors must complete 54 hours of training before they can work with a resident. The training covers:

  • Bathing and personal care
  • The effects of dehydration
  • Maintaining skin integrity
  • Medication Management
  • Elimination
  • Nutrition
  • Development and Aging
  • Grief, loss, death
  • Mobility
  • Fall prevention
  • Mental health, depression and lonliness
  • Keeping a clean, safe, and healthy environment
  • Home Safety
  • Assistance with Appliances

Evaluations

Once every 6 months a qualified nurse will evaluate the personal care services provided by the staff or contracted providers to the resident. Along with this evaluation, staff will be tested on there knowledge of SAMM regulations and residence policies.  

Please refer to the Assisted Living Regulations  for further details.

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