Texas Implements New Dementia Training & Exam Requirements For Assisted Living Employees

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is implementing a newly signed law that requires assisted living facilities to ensure that managers and staff members who care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders complete dementia-related training. The initial training, which takes four hours, includes an exam. The topics include dementia, person-centered care, care-planning, activities of daily living, and common behaviors associated with dementia. To maintain the certificate, staff members and facility managers will be required to complete two hours of annual training.

The law, House Bill (HB) 1673, was signed on June 13, 2023; it goes into effect on September 1, 2023. However, rules to implement this bill will not be in effect until September 1, 2024. All assisted living facilities must come into compliance with the initial training requirement by December 31, 2024.

For the ongoing continuing education requirement, direct caregiver staff and facility managers will be required to complete two hours of training. All other staff members will be required to complete a basic training that covers the basics of dementia, person-centered care, and effective communication; and they must pass an evaluation demonstrating “dementia competency.”

Current law states that assisted-living staff serving Alzheimer’s residents should be trained in Alzheimer’s but does not specify content or number of hours. The goal of the new law is that assisted living facility staff interacting with people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders have greater understanding about dementia and better able to participate in collaborative caregiving.

For more information, contact: Communications, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, 4601 West Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78751-3146; 512-424-6951; Website: https://hhs.texas.gov/