SB22-079 Summary

• The State Board of Health must adopt rules by January 1, 2024 requiring nursing care facilities and assisted living residences to provide at least 4 hours of initial dementia training to direct-care staff within 120 days of employment, plus 2 hours of continuing education every 2 years.

• The State Board must adopt rules by July 1, 2024 with identical dementia training requirements for adult day care facilities providing services to clients with dementia.

• Initial training must be culturally competent and cover dementia diseases, person-centered care, care planning, activities of daily living, and dementia-related behaviors and communication.

• Facilities must provide all training and continuing education at no cost to staff members, and staff who completed equivalent training within 24 months prior to the effective date may be exempted from requirements with proof of completion.

• The bill addresses an estimated 76,000 Coloradans living with Alzheimer's disease in 2022, projected to increase by 21 percent by 2025, with 48 percent of nursing facility residents having dementia.