Relates to the adult care facilities training program

4 Co-sponsors

• Velmanette Montgomery
• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Thomas K. Duane
• Liz Krueger

BILL NUMBER:S6279A

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to the adult care facilities training program

Purpose or general idea of bill

Establish a training program for direct-care staff working in adult homes and other adult care facilities.

Summary of specific provisions

Amends Social Services Law § 461-p to require all adult care facility direct-care staff to complete a training curriculum and pass a written and a practical exam before being allowed to perform direct-care services without supervision. Existing staff will have one additional year to complete the training requirements.

Directs the Department of Health to establish a workgroup to develop a uniform curriculum and best practices. The curriculum must include at least 40 hours of instruction divided between classroom and hands-on learning, an addition 8 hours of training in medication management and administration, and promote the values of resident autonomy and dignity.

Justification

Adult care facilities (ACFs), which include adult homes, enriched housing, and assisted living residences of all types, house a diverse population including many elderly and disabled New Yorkers.

Aides and other direct care staff are responsible for providing the vast majority of care in ACFs, including assisting residents with activities of daily life such as bathing, eating, and walking. Despite this level of responsibility, there is no uniform course of training required for direct care staff in ACFs, only guidelines. A lack of training contributes directly to patterns of error that endanger the health and safety of residents. Medication errors arc particularly dangerous due to their frequency and the potential harm involved.

This bill will assure residents of ACFs that the individuals who assist them with their highly personal tasks of daily living have achieved an appropriate level of competence based on uniform standards or education and training.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

Moderate department staff costs.

Effective date

Immediately for the purpose of establishing the workgroup and standards. One year after enactment for section 4, which enforces the training requirement on new staff (existing staff are given an additional year in that section).