The bill establishes the Ohio Dementia Care Training Act for Nurse Aides by amending sections 3721.28, 3721.29, and 3721.30 of the Revised Code. It mandates that long-term care facilities provide nurse aides with an approved competency evaluation program, which includes a minimum of two hours of dementia-specific training annually. This training covers essential topics such as communication techniques, behavioral symptoms, and person-centered care practices. Importantly, the bill stipulates that nurse aides cannot provide direct care to residents with dementia until they have completed the required training. Additionally, it outlines the responsibilities of long-term care facilities to ensure proper orientation and regular performance reviews for nurse aides.

The bill also introduces provisions that empower the director of health to impose fines, request corrective action plans, or revoke licenses for facilities that fail to comply with the training requirements. It prohibits any charges to nurse aides for participating in approved training programs, ensuring that employers cannot require them to pay for training or evaluation costs. Furthermore, the bill clarifies the definition of "dementia" and repeals certain sections of the Revised Code to streamline the legislative framework surrounding dementia care training, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of care for residents with cognitive impairments.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3721.28, 3721.29, 3721.30