ATLANTA — Advocates for Georgians battling Alzheimer's Disease are begging for help as state leaders try to reduce staffing requirements for memory care facilities.
Leaders with the Alzheimer's Association said the Georgia Department of Community Health is discussing a rule change regarding staffing requirements for assisted living communities. The proposed change would ultimately permit memory care units to staff only one direct care worker in a unit.
"It's not only detrimental to the residents' care but also to the staff," Nancy Pitra, Director of Government Affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, said.
Pitra added currently, under HB987, two direct care workers are required for each unit or floor within a memory care center or assisted living facility. However, under the proposed change, only two direct care workers would be required for an entire facility.
"When you make the decision to no longer take care of your loved one at home because of where they are in their dementia journey – it's because they need more care and oversight," Pitra said.
Caregivers like Dan Goerke, who made the incredibly difficult decision to put his wife in a memory care unit at the age of 60, said he fears this kind of change could put his wife in harm's way-- in a place where he thought she'd be the safest.
"If the guidelines are that there's going to be less staff there will be more likelihood to get out and wander off," Goerke said. "I think the caregivers with loved ones with dementia are going to have to think long and hard about whether they want to put their loved one in a facility when we know staffing will be impacted negatively."
Goerke said if anything, state leaders need to be considering increasing the staffing requirement.
"Even though they live within a cloud of dementia, that doesn't mean they have forsaken their cleverness. They will still find ways to get out. Despite the safeguards of a locked door, I saw at least a half dozen times where residents were able to get out," Goerke added.
11Alive asked the state Department of Community Health why the changes are being proposed - but hasn't heard back.
Public comment period details
The Georgia Department of Community Health is holding a public comment period on the proposed changes.
The rule changes would primarily do two things: change a current requirement for floor-by-floor staffing and alter definitions for "on-site" staffing for two rules that regulate assisted living communities and certified memory care centers.
Language requiring at least two staff at the facility at all times and an additional staff worker on each occupied floor of a facility would be changed to remove the requirement for the extra additional staff per floor.
The change would also add a definition for "on-site" that would mean "on-duty and physically present within the building" with ready access to communications devices, allowing them to "expeditiously respond in emergent situations."
Together, the Alzheimer's Association argues the changes would allow "only one direct care worker in a memory care unit," according to a release. The association opposes the rule changes.
According to state materials, a public hearing on Zoom will be held on Monday, Dec. 11, at a link you can find here. Comments that day will be limited to 10 minutes per person.
Additionally, emails can be sent up to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, to public.comment@dch.ga.gov.
Hand-written comments can be mailed to:
- Attention: Alycia Allgood
- Office of General Counsel
- Georgia Department of Community Health
- 2 M.L.K., Jr. Drive, SE, 18th Floor, East Tower
- Atlanta, GA 30334
“The Alzheimer’s Association will always land on the side of quality care standards for residents and staff,” Pitra added. “Requiring two staff minimum per unit is a safety measure to ensure the ability to respond to the unique and ever-changing needs of memory care residents both day and night."