Dementia Training Requirements in Indiana: What Home Care, Home Health, Hospice, Assisted Living, and Nursing Home Providers Need to Know

As Indiana’s population ages, dementia care training is becoming increasingly important across the entire continuum of care.

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers, and care providers are seeing more individuals living with cognitive impairment in homes, assisted living communities, hospice programs, adult day centers, and skilled nursing facilities.

Because dementia care requires specialized communication, behavioral support, safety awareness, and person-centered approaches, Indiana and federal regulators have implemented training requirements in several healthcare settings.

However, some sectors — especially non-medical home care — still operate with minimal or no mandated dementia education requirements despite frequently serving clients with memory loss.

For providers, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity.

Why Dementia Training Matters

Dementia care is not simply “regular caregiving.”

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias may experience:

• Memory loss

• Wandering

• Agitation

• Hallucinations

• Sleep disturbances

• Resistance to care

• Communication difficulties

• Behavioral changes

• Safety risks

Without proper training, caregivers may unintentionally:

• Escalate behaviors

• Increase client distress

• Create unsafe situations

• Experience burnout themselves

High-quality dementia training helps staff:

• Understand disease progression

• Improve communication techniques

• Use non-pharmacological interventions

• Reduce avoidable hospitalizations

• Improve family satisfaction

• Deliver more compassionate care

Even when not legally required, dementia education can significantly improve outcomes for both clients and caregivers.

Indiana Home Health Dementia Training Requirements

Indiana has some of the clearest dementia training requirements for home health aides.

Under Indiana law, registered home health aides who care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or related cognitive disorders must complete approved dementia education.

Current Indiana Requirements

Under Indiana Code § 16-27-1.5-5 and the updated 2025 statute:

• Home health aides must complete 6 hours of approved dementia training within 60 days of being hired to care for dementia patients

• HHAs employed for at least one year must complete 3 hours annually thereafter

• Training may be completed online

• Providers must issue certificates of completion

• Training must be approved by the Indiana Department of Health or designated commission

Required topics include:

• Alzheimer’s disease and dementia fundamentals

• Best practices in dementia care

• Behavioral interventions

• Communication strategies

• Person-centered care

• Family involvement

• Daily care needs

• Assessment and care planning

Approved Training Providers

Indiana requires “approved dementia training” programs, though the state does not maintain a highly visible public directory of approved vendors.

Many agencies utilize nationally recognized dementia education providers such as:

• CareAcademy

• Relias Learning

• Alzheimer's Association Training and Education Center

• National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)

Dementia Training Requirements in Hospice

Unlike Indiana home health aides, hospice organizations are primarily governed by federal Medicare Conditions of Participation through CMS. There is currently no standalone federal rule requiring a specific number of dementia training hours for all hospice workers.

However:

• Hospice agencies must ensure staff competency

• Staff must be trained to meet patient needs

• Many hospice patients have dementia diagnoses

• Surveyors may evaluate competency and care quality during inspections

Because dementia is one of the leading hospice diagnoses nationwide, many hospice providers voluntarily implement dementia-specific education.

Common hospice dementia training topics include:

• End-stage dementia

• Behavioral symptoms

• Comfort-focused dementia care

• Family communication

• Feeding and swallowing changes

• Hospice eligibility for dementia patients

• Palliative approaches to agitation and anxiety

Why Hospice Providers Invest in Dementia Training

Many hospice patients with dementia:

• Cannot communicate pain effectively

• Experience terminal agitation

• Require specialized behavioral approaches

• Need caregiver education and emotional support

Hospice organizations that specialize in dementia care often see:

• Improved family satisfaction

• Better symptom management

• Reduced caregiver stress

• Fewer crisis calls

CMS is also increasingly focused on dementia care initiatives, including programs such as the GUIDE Model for dementia support.

Dementia Training Requirements in Assisted Living and Memory Care Units

Indiana assisted living communities that operate Alzheimer’s or dementia special care units have additional requirements.

Facilities with dedicated dementia care units must:

• Have a qualified director

• Provide dementia-specific staff training

• Maintain dementia care disclosures

• Follow specialized care standards

Director Training Requirements

In Indiana memory care programs:

• Directors must complete 12 hours of dementia-specific training within 3 months

• Directors must complete 6 hours annually thereafter 

The director must also ensure staff receive appropriate dementia-related in-service training.

Staff Training Expectations

While Indiana regulations place heavier emphasis on leadership qualifications, facilities are expected to train staff on:

• Dementia behaviors

• Resident safety

• Communication

• Wandering prevention

• Person-centered care

• Behavioral management

Many assisted living providers exceed minimum requirements due to the complexity of memory care residents.

Dementia Training Requirements in Nursing Homes

Federal nursing home regulations require facilities to ensure staff have competencies and skills to care for residents safely, including those with dementia.

CMS dementia care guidance emphasizes:

• Behavioral health competency

• Non-pharmacological interventions

• Person-centered care

• Reduction of inappropriate antipsychotic use

• Resident rights and dignity

Indiana skilled nursing facilities with Alzheimer’s special care units may also face additional state-level training expectations.

Most nursing homes provide:

• Initial dementia orientation

• Annual in-service education

• Behavioral intervention training

• Elopement prevention education

• Abuse prevention education

Non-Medical Home Care: The Gap in Regulation

One of the most important discussions in Indiana eldercare today involves non-medical home care.

Unlike home health aides employed under Medicare-certified home health or hospice agencies, caregivers working for private-pay non-medical home care agencies often have:

• No state dementia training mandate

• No standardized competency requirement

• No annual dementia CE requirement

Yet these caregivers frequently serve clients with:

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Lewy body dementia

• Frontotemporal dementia

• Vascular dementia

• Mild cognitive impairment

In practice, non-medical home care agencies are often on the front lines of dementia care.

Why Dementia Training Still Matters in Non-Medical Home Care

Even without state mandates, dementia training offers major benefits.

Improved Safety

Properly trained caregivers are better equipped to:

• Prevent wandering

• Reduce falls

• Manage behavioral escalation

• Identify changes in condition

Better Client Retention

Families increasingly seek agencies with dementia expertise. Agencies offering specialized dementia-trained caregivers often gain a competitive advantage.

Reduced Caregiver Burnout

Dementia care can be emotionally demanding. Training helps caregivers:

• Feel more confident

• Understand behaviors

• Avoid frustration

• Improve communication

Better Family Relationships

Families living with dementia often experience overwhelming stress.

Knowledgeable caregivers build trust and improve overall family satisfaction.

Best Practices for Indiana Home Care Agencies

Even if not required, Indiana non-medical home care agencies should strongly consider:

• Initial dementia orientation for all caregivers

• Annual dementia continuing education

• Specialized memory care tracks

• Behavioral intervention training

• Family communication education

• Wandering and safety protocols

• Dementia competency evaluations

Many agencies also pursue dementia-focused certifications and partnerships.

The Future of Dementia Care Training in Indiana

Indiana’s aging population will continue increasing demand for dementia-capable care across all healthcare settings.

As more Hoosiers age at home, providers in:

• Home care

• Home health

• Hospice

• Assisted living

• Adult day services

• Skilled nursing

will likely face growing expectations around dementia competency and workforce education.

Even where regulations have not yet caught up, the industry trend is clear:

Dementia training is rapidly becoming an essential standard of quality care rather than an optional enhancement.

For Indiana providers, investing in dementia education today may improve:

• Care quality

• Staff retention

• Family satisfaction

• Regulatory readiness

• Long-term business sustainability

Most importantly, it helps ensure that individuals living with dementia receive compassionate, respectful, and informed care throughout every stage of aging.