CHAPTER 269

An Act concerning training in long-term care facilities and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

C.26:2M-7.2 Training for long-term facility staff relative to Alzheimer's disease.

    1. a. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall establish a mandatory training program for long-term care facility staff, as described in subsection b. of this section, in the specialized care of patients who are diagnosed by a physician as having Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The training program shall include the causes and progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and methods to deal with the specific problems encountered in the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, including, but not limited to: communicating with patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; psychological, social and physical needs of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; and safety measures which need to be taken for a patient with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

    b.    A long-term care facility shall annually provide training, under the training program established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to a certified nurse aide, licensed practical nurse, registered professional nurse and other health care professionals, as appropriate, who provide direct care to a patient in the facility who is diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder

    2.    The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of

this act.

    3.    This act shall take effect on the 120th day after enactment.

    Approved January 14, 2004.