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Alzheimer's Disease Services Curriculum

Public Act 100-1074 – Alzheimer’s Services Curriculum

Public Act 100-1074 amended the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Services Act to require the Illinois Department of Public Health compile and publish a list of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) services curriculum on the Department’s website.

The Act requires staff with direct access to clients with AD/ADRD hired after the adoption of rules implementing this Act shall complete a minimum of 6 hours of initial training in the first 60 days of employment using an AD/ADRD services curriculum compiled by the Department. Upon the adoption of rules implementing this Act – 1) staff with direct access to clients with dementia shall receive 3 hours of advanced training on caring for individuals with AD/ADRD each year, 2) AD/ADRD services program employers shall maintain training records and make them available to the Department on request, and 3) a manager, supervisor, or person with the chief responsibility of oversight of AD/ADRD services within an entity shall complete an AD/ADRD services curriculum from a list compiled by the Department or have 5 years of experience as a director of an AD/ADRD services program.

Programs covered by the Act include, but are not limited to, health care facilities licensed or certified by the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act; Nursing Home Care Act; Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act; and Hospice Program Licensing Act.

The Act specifies the staff and entities to which these requirements do not apply.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias services curriculum

Public Act 100-1074 states the AD/ADRD services curriculum must include at a minimum the following topics:

  • understanding dementia
  • effectively communicating with individuals with dementia:
  • assisting individuals with dementia in performing activities of daily living:
  • problem solving with individuals with dementia who exhibit challenging behavior:
  • fundamentals of dementia care:
  • safe environments: and
  • managing the activities of individuals with dementia.

The following national organizations provide guidance and training.