(1) The following terms are defined in Florida Statutes § 429.918, and are applicable to this rule section: ADRD Participant, Dementia, Specialized Alzheimer’s Services, and Therapeutic Activity.
    (2) Within three months of employment, all Staff in Direct Contact with ADRD Participants and all Staff Providing Direct Care for ADRD Participants at a Center designated as a Specialized Alzheimer’s services adult day care center pursuant to Florida Statutes § 429.918, and hired on or after July 1, 2012, must obtain four hours of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders training pursuant to subsection 59A-16.110(1), F.A.C.
    (3) Within six months of employment, all Staff Providing Direct Care for ADRD Participants at a Center designated as a Specialized Alzheimer’s services adult day care center pursuant to Florida Statutes § 429.918, and hired on or after July 1, 2012, must obtain an additional four hours of dementia-specific training approved by the Department. The curriculum for the additional four hours of training must address the following subject areas as they apply to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders:
    a. Understanding brain disease,
    b. Normal brain functions and normal aging,
    c. Understanding treatable and irreversible dementia,
    d. Mental status tests,
    e. Communication and the effects of damage to brain cells,
    f. Influences on behavior and brain deterioration,
    g. Interventions,
    h. Physical causes and pain indications,
    i. Common Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders medications and side effects,
    j. Malnutrition and dehydration,
    k. Activities of daily living — routines and schedules,
    l. Validation therapy,
    m. Safety — new and proven technologies,
    n. Caregiver stress management — physical, emotional, and financial; burden tests.
    (4) All training providers and their curricula must be approved by the Department or its designee pursuant to Fl. Admin. Code R. 58A-6.016, prior to the commencement of training activities pursuant to this rule.
    (5) All Staff Providing Direct Care for ADRD Participants shall participate in four hours of continuing education annually in topics related to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
    (6) All training required by this rule and Florida Statutes § 429.918, must be completed only once for each applicable employee.
Rulemaking Authority 429.918(6)(b), 429.929(1) FS. Law Implemented 429.918(6)(a) FS. History-New 8-3-15, Formerly 58A-6.0151, 7-1-19.