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Credentialing dementia training: the Florida experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Kathryn Hyer ,
Victor Molinari ,
Mary Kaplan  and
Sharmalee Jones
Kathryn Hyer
Affiliation:
School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Victor Molinari*
Affiliation:
Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Mary Kaplan
Affiliation:
School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Sharmalee Jones
Affiliation:
School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Victor Molinari, Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, MHC #1440, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33612-3899, U.S.A. Phone: +1 (813) 974-1960; Fax: +1 (813) 974-1968. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: Florida is a leader in requiring that all direct care staff employed in assisted living, nursing homes, hospice, adult day care and home health undergo Alzheimer's disease (AD) training. Legislative requirements prescribe the curricula components and require a review of curricular content and minimum standards for the training providers.

Methods: We describe Florida's AD training program review process, and report the results of our review of 445 curricula received over four and a half years.

Results: On initial submission, over 90% of curricula submitted did not include learning objectives, time formats or didactic approach. During a review of content we often found inaccurate information, language that was not person-centered, and missing required training components.

Conclusion: Form and content problems were prevalent across all curricular types. We propose the Florida credentialing program as a model to ensure that accurate and educationally sound curricula are used to train direct care workers.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseaseeducationtraininglong-term care staff
Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Special Issue 6: Focus on training in psychogeriatrics , September 2010 , pp. 864 - 873
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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