Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. The following
employees shall receive a minimum of 8 hours of training on cognitive
impairment and mental illness within the first 90 days of employment:
(1) Any employee who is licensed, certified,
or registered under the Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland;
and
(2) Any employee whose job
duties include assisting residents with activities of daily living.
B. The training on cognitive
impairment and mental illness shall be designed to meet the specific needs of
the nursing home's population as determined by the staff trainer, including the
following as appropriate:
(1) An overview of
the following:
(a) A description of normal
aging and conditions causing cognitive impairment;
(b) A description of normal aging and
conditions causing mental illness;
(c) Risk factors for cognitive
impairment;
(d) Risk factors for
mental illness;
(e) Health
conditions that affect cognitive impairment;
(f) Health conditions that affect mental
illness;
(g) Early identification
and intervention for cognitive impairment;
(h) Early identification and intervention for
mental illness; and
(i) Procedures
for reporting cognitive, behavioral, and mood changes;
(2) Effective communication including:
(a) The effect of cognitive impairment on
expressive and receptive communication;
(b) The effect of mental illness on
expressive and receptive communication;
(c) Effective verbal, non-verbal, tone and
volume of voice, and word choice techniques; and
(d) Environmental stimuli and influences on
communication;
(3)
Behavioral interventions including:
(a)
Identifying and interpreting behavioral symptoms;
(b) Problem solving for appropriate
intervention;
(c) Risk factors and
safety precautions to protect the individual and other residents; and
(d) De-escalation techniques;
(4) Making activities meaningful
including:
(a) Understanding the therapeutic
role of activities;
(b) Creating
opportunities for productive, leisure, and self-care activities; and
(c) Structuring the day;
(5) Staff and family interaction including:
(a) Building a partnership for goal-directed
care;
(b) Understanding families'
needs; and
(c) Effective
communication between family and staff;
(6) End-of-life care including:
(a) Pain management;
(b) Providing comfort and dignity;
and
(c) Supporting the family;
and
(7) Managing staff
stress including:
(a) Understanding the impact
of stress on job performance, staff relations, and overall facility
environment;
(b) Identification of
stress triggers;
(c) Self-care
skills;
(d) De-escalation
techniques; and
(e) Devising
support systems and action plans.
C. Employees who are not licensed, certified,
or registered or who do not assist residents with activities of daily living
shall receive a minimum of 2 hours of training on cognitive impairment and
mental illness within the first 90 days of employment. The training shall
include:
(1) An overview of the following:
(a) A description of normal aging and
conditions causing cognitive impairment;
(b) A description of normal aging and
conditions causing mental illness;
(c) Risk factors for cognitive
impairment;
(d) Risk factors for
mental illness;
(e) Health
conditions that affect cognitive impairment;
(f) Health conditions that affect mental
illness;
(g) Early identification
and intervention for cognitive impairment;
(h) Early identification and intervention for
mental illness; and
(i) Procedures
for reporting cognitive, behavioral, and mood changes;
(2) Effective communication including:
(a) The effect of cognitive impairment on
expressive and receptive communication;
(b) The effect of mental illness on
expressive and receptive communication;
(c) Effective verbal, non-verbal, tone and
volume of voice, and word choice techniques; and
(d) Environmental stimuli and influences on
communication; and
(3)
Behavioral intervention including risk factors and safety precautions to
protect the individual and other residents.
D. Ongoing training in cognitive impairment
and mental illness shall be provided annually and consist of, at a minimum:
(1) 2 hours for employees who are licensed,
certified, or registered under the Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code
of Maryland, or who assist residents with activities of daily living;
and
(2) 1 hour for all other
employees.
E. The
training that is described in this chapter may be provided through various
means including:
(1) Classroom
instruction;
(2) In-service
training;
(3) Internet
courses;
(4) Correspondence
courses;
(5) Pre-recorded training;
or
(6) Other training
methods.
F. When the
training method does not involve direct interaction between faculty and the
participant, the facility shall make available to the participant during the
training a trained individual to answer questions and respond to issues raised
by the training.
