Legislators Propose Bill to Provide Dementia Training to Nurse Aides In Ohio
- The Ohio Dementia Care Training Act for Nurse Aides bill that would require long-term and residential care facilities to provide two hours of dementia-specific training to nurse aides.
- Facilities would be required to maintain records and face consequences if not in compliance.
- The bill would aim to improve the quality of care provided to dementia patients in facilities.
In a first-of-its-kind, Ohio legislators proposed the Ohio Dementia Care Training Act for Nurse Aides bill that would require long-term and residential care facilities to provide a minimum of two hours of dementia-specific training to nurse aides.
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Proposed by state Senators Beth Liston (D-Dublin) and Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus), the training would be part of their competency evaluation and annual in-service training.
“Our nurse aides are on the front lines of care every day,” said Liston. “By ensuring they receive dementia-specific training, we’re giving them the tools they need to provide compassionate, informed support to some of our most vulnerable patients.”
Training Specifics
The dementia training must be approved by the Ohio Department of Health and can include the following,
- Programs from recognized dementia care organizations
- State-provided training modules
- Faculty-developed programs
The bill does mention specific topics that would need to be covered for the course to be approved, including,
- Different types of dementia
- Communication techniques
- Behavioral symptom management
- Person-centered care practices
- Resident rights
Purpose of the Bill
Originally introduced in September 2025 and sponsored by Rachel Baker (D) and Kellie Deeter, the purpose of the bill is to educate nurse aides with specialized knowledge in caring for patients with dementia and to improve the quality of care they receive.
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According to the Ohio Department of Aging, more than one in four Ohio residents will be 60 or older by 2030.
“As Ohio’s population continues to age, we must ensure every older adult, especially those living with dementia, receives care that upholds their dignity and humanity,” said Craig. “By providing our nurse aides with specialized dementia training, we’re strengthening the quality of care for patients and supporting the dedicated professionals who serve them every day.”
Facilities are required to maintain records of compliance, and there would be potential penalties for facilities if they fail to comply, including.
- Fines
- Required correction plans
- Possible license revocation
Currently, the bill is “in Senate Committee” and needs to be reported by the Committee, passed by the Senate, before being sent to the Governor. The bill was developed in response to Governor Mike DeWine’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force Recommendations Report.
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