DHS Offers Grants for Online Dementia Training and Certification for Nursing Facilities

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Lori Meyer

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), through the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative, is seeking proposals from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-Certified Nursing Facilities that are interested in implementing an online Dementia Care Training and Certification Program.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has authorized the use of these monies to provide CARES online training and certification in up to 30 Minnesota nursing facilities.

HealthCare Interactive (HCI), a national leader in Alzheimer’s and dementia-care online training, will offer facilities CARES online training and certification. CARES was developed in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association, University of Minnesota, and academic and government experts and is formally recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The CARES program has been implemented throughout the U.S. and Canada and offers up to 40 hours of online training modules, covering a variety of topics from dementia basics to end-of-life care. The training package included in this effort will cover dementia basics and dementia-related behavior training for all nursing facility staff, as well the entire 40-hour Dementia Specialist credentialing package for up to 5 staff members per site. Optional monthly webinars will be offered for educators and administrators and will provide strategies to improve dementia care for residents from the administrative level. For more information about CARES or a video preview, visit their website at www.hcinteractive.com/CMP.

Successful applicants will receive grant funding to cover the cost of the CARES training and consultation package being offered and will purchase these services directly from HealthCare Interactive.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, until midnight on August 1, 2021 or until funding is no longer available. A 60-minute informational webinar and Q&A session will be held for interested facilities on Wednesday, April 14^th at 2 p.m. For more information or to submit an application, go to the DHS nursing home webpage and select the “Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Initiative” link on the page.