(a) A nursing home administrator of a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision shall ensure that all facility staff receive annual in-service training in an area specific to the needs of the patient population at such facilities, including patients' fear of retaliation from employees or others. A nursing home administrator shall ensure that any person conducting the in-service training is familiar with needs of the patient population at the facility, provided such training need not be conducted by a qualified social worker or qualified social worker consultant. A nursing home administrator shall ensure that the in-service training in patients' fear of retaliation includes discussion of (1) patients' rights to file complaints and voice grievances, (2) examples of what might constitute or be perceived as employee retaliation against patients, and (3) methods of preventing employee retaliation and alleviating patients' fear of such retaliation.

(b) A nursing home administrator of a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision shall designate one staff person in each such home to review and make recommendations to the administrator concerning residents with dementia, including, but not limited to: (1) Factors which affect person-centered care, (2) wellness indicators, and (3) staff training programs for dementia care capability. The designated staff person shall monitor implementation of approved recommendations.

(c) A nursing home administrator of a chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision shall ensure that all facility staff receive training upon employment and annually thereafter in Alzheimer's disease and dementia symptoms and care.

(d) In accordance with section 19a-36, the Commissioner of Public Health shall amend the Public Health Code to implement the provisions of this section.

(P.A. 10-117, S. 71; P.A. 13-70, S. 2; P.A. 14-194, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 10-117 effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 13-70 added provisions re in-service training requirement in patients' fear of retaliation from employees or others; P.A. 14-194 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to delete provision re amendment to Public Health Code, and added Subsec. (b) re staff person to make recommendations concerning residents with dementia, Subsec. (c) re training in Alzheimer's disease and dementia symptoms and care, and Subsec. (d) re amendment to Public Health Code.