6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1011-1-5-14

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024

Section 6 CCR 1011-1-5-14 - FEEDING ASSISTANTS

14.1 "Feeding Assistant" means an individual who provides residents with assistance in eating and drinking in order to reduce the incidence of unplanned weight loss and dehydration.

14.2 Qualifications

A) A nursing care facility shall ensure that its feeding assistants are qualified and trained to meet the requirements of this section 14, with the exception of the following individuals who shall be considered exempt:

1) Licensed practitioners;

2) Certified nurse aides;

3) Supervised nursing students; and

4) Resident family members or designees.

B) The facility shall verify that each feeding assistant meets the following criteria:

1) Has no history that would preclude interaction with residents; and

2) Has successfully completed the feeding assistant training program described in section 14.9 of this chapter.

14.3 SUPERVISION

A feeding assistant shall work under the supervision of and shall report to a registered or licensed practical nurse. Each feeding assistant shall be given instruction by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or registered dietitian concerning the specific feeding and hydration needs of each resident being assisted.

14.4 STAFFING

Feeding assistants may not be counted toward meeting or complying with any requirement for nursing care staff and functions of a facility, including minimum nurse staffing requirements.

14.5 LOCATION

Feeding assistance may be performed in either congregate dining areas or resident rooms if determined safe by the nurse in charge. A nurse shall be immediately available in case of an emergency during meals.

14.6 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

Feeding assistants shall know how to use resident call systems and shall immediately secure the assistance of a nurse, practitioner or other licensed personnel in an emergency.

14.7 RESIDENT SELECTION

A) Resident selection shall be based upon the charge nurse's assessment and the resident's latest assessment and plan of care.

B) The facility shall ensure that a feeding assistant only assists those residents who have no complicated feeding issues.

1) Complicated feeding issues include, but are not limited to, difficulty swallowing, recurrent lung aspirations and tube or parenteral/IV feedings.

14.8 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

An employing facility shall develop and implement policies and procedures concerning the use of feeding assistants developed in accordance with this section.

14.9 FEEDING ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM

Feeding assistant curriculum specifications and program requirements are defined by the Department. Nursing care facilities may offer a feeding assistant training program only upon approval by the Department.

A) A facility seeking approval to administer a feeding assistant training program shall submit, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department, written confirmation that its training program conforms to the curriculum specifications and program requirements established by the Department.

1) Program approval may be granted for a period not to exceed one year to those programs that meet the minimum requirements.

2) A facility approved to administer a feeding assistant training program pursuant to this section shall submit annual renewal forms, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department, in order to continue its training program.

3) The Department may deny, suspend or withdraw its approval of a training program if it determines that there is good cause to do so. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, a determination that a feeding assistant training program is not being administered in compliance with the applicable regulations.

B) Feeding assistant training programs shall use as instructors only individuals who have appropriate experience in feeding and hydrating residents and who meet the following professional criteria:

1) Licensed in Colorado as a registered or practical nurse,

2) A Registered Dietician who meets standards established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration,

3) A speech-language pathologist certified by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, or

4) An occupational therapist licensed or authorized by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

C) Curriculum for the feeding assistant training program shall include, but need not be limited to, the following subjects:

1) Feeding techniques;

2) Assistance with feeding and hydration;

3) Communication and interpersonal skills;

4) Appropriate responses to resident behavior;

5) Safety and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver;

6) Infection control;

7) Resident rights; and

8) Recognizing changes in residents that are inconsistent with their normal behavior and the importance of reporting those changes to the supervisory nurse.

D) Successful completion of the feeding assistant training program requires each individual enrolled to obtain a score of 80 percent or greater in a written examination provided at the conclusion of classroom instruction. Written examination questions shall be of an appropriate level of difficulty to reflect proficiency in each module of the "Feeding Assistant Curriculum Specifications and Program Requirements" and, at the discretion of the training program provider, may include ancillary feeding assistant-related curriculum subjects. Written examination questions shall not be disclosed to candidates in advance and shall be varied in format and content from test to test.

E) An individual who successfully completes a feeding assistant training program is not required to repeat the program unless the individual has not provided feeding assistance for a period of 24 consecutive months. In such case, the facility shall not allow the individual to provide feeding assistance until the individual successfully repeats the feeding assistant training program.

F) Facilities shall maintain the training record of each individual who attends the feeding assistant training program for a period of not less than three years.

6 CCR 1011-1-5-14