SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14

(By Senators Facemyer, Hunter, Unger, Helmick and Jenkins)


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study training and education needs in regard to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in medical adult day care centers, nursing homes, assisted living residences and residential care communities.

Whereas, Today more than 50 percent of all residents in long- term care facilities suffer from Alzheimer's disease or related dementia; and
Whereas, Current certified nursing assistants' training requirements, which were adopted by the Legislature in the late 1980s, were appropriate at that time for the physically frail population in long-term care facilities. Today, the long-term care population is more cognitively impaired than physically impaired; and
Whereas, Education and training should address the change in the current population of long-term care facilities and the needs of staff who care for people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia; and
Whereas, Studies find annual rates of turnover among long-term care staff range from 45 percent to more than 100 percent; and
Whereas, The quality of care for residents suffers when they lose the continuity of care from familiar workers who know them and have come to understand their needs. This loss is particularly acute for persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia; and
Whereas, Other states have dementia-specific training components that include a basic understanding of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, communication approaches and techniques, and preventing or managing challenging behaviors in persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia; and
Whereas, Rarely does an illness take such a pervasive toll on families and impact so many lives in so many ways; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study training and education needs in regard to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in medical adult day care centers, nursing homes, assisted living residences and residential care communities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2007, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.