OHCA 2020 Oregon Long Term Care State Report

www.ohca.com Oregon Health Care Association 14 Training and Education Recently passed legislation ensures that Oregon’s long term providers have some of the most comprehensive training and education requirements in the country. As part of House Bill 3359 (2017), all direct caregivers in residential care and assisted living communities must receive training and demonstrate competency in nationally recognized dementia care best practices before being allowed to care for residents. In addition, all direct care staff must receive an additional six hours of continuing education in dementia care annually. House Bill 3359 also included the creation of the first-in- the-nation Quality Measurement Council, which will set quality metrics for assisted living, residential care, and memory care. This law establishes a clearer regulatory framework and updates to licensing fees and fines. Senate Bill 669 (2019) mandates that in-home care agencies, which provide care to patients in their own home, must also provide pre-service and ongoing training subject to demonstrations of competency for direct caregivers. Additional training hours for caregivers involved in medication management are also required. Administrative rules implementing SB 669 are still being developed and implemented by the Oregon Health Authority. Oregon has also been a leader in providing free digital training to caregivers of all types, including family caregivers, via a state funded initiative, Oregon Care Partners. Oregon Care Partners Established in 2014 by the Oregon Legislature, Oregon Care partners provides access to no-cost, high-quality trainings in all corners of the state. These trainings are offered in-person and online with timely, evidence-based curriculum, including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, medication management, challenging behaviors and communication, trauma informed care, diversity, equity and inclusion in long-term care, and specialized training on Alzheimer’s disease for public safety workers. From July 2019 to October 2020, 21,467 unique individual caregivers completed 130,205 Oregon Care Partners in-person and online classes and webinars. The COVID-19 pandemic required Oregon Care Partners to completely reimagine its curriculum delivery this year. This spring, it began conducting all classes via webinar and in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) developed and launched online infection prevention training courses. Total number of unpaid (family) caregivers trained 7,903 Source: Oregon Care Partners (2020). Project Report: Current as of December 3, 2020. Total number of paid caregivers trained 39,047 Caregivers Trained via Oregon Care Partners