Failure to Provide Staff Training in Dementia and Behavioral Health Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff members were adequately trained to manage residents with dementia and challenging behaviors. Multiple staff interviews revealed that both new and long-term employees had not received training from the facility on dementia care or behavioral management. Staff reported witnessing resident-to-resident incidents and aggressive behaviors from residents with dementia, expressing fear and uncertainty about how to handle such situations. Employee record reviews confirmed a lack of documented training in dementia management and behavioral health for the staff reviewed. Staff members, including LPNs, CNAs, and an RN, described situations where they felt unprepared to manage aggressive or challenging behaviors, sometimes requiring additional staff to provide care safely. The Director of Nursing acknowledged the deficiency, stating that there was a recognized lack of training for staff in behavioral health. The facility had a census of 34 residents, many with Alzheimer's and dementia, yet staff consistently reported insufficient training in managing these residents' behavioral health needs.