77 Ill. Adm. Code 245.70
Home Health Aide Training
Section 245
Section 245.70Â Home Health
Aide Training
a)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Each home health agency and home nursing agency shall ensure
that all persons employed as home health aides or under any other title, whose
duties are to assist with the personal, nursing or medical care and emotional
comfort of the patients, and who are not otherwise licensed, certified or
registered in accordance with Illinois law to render such care, comply with one
of the following conditions:
1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Is approved on the Department's Health Care Worker Registry.Â
(see Section 245.72);
2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Meets training requirements by completion of a training
program approved under the Long-Term Care Assistants and Aides Training
Programs Code (see 77 Ill. Adm. Code 395); or
3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Meets equivalencies established in subsection (b).
b)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Equivalency may be established by any one of the following:
1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Documentation of current registration from another state.
2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Documentation of successful completion of a nursing arts
course that includes at least 40 hours of supervised clinical experience, in an
accredited nurse training program as evidenced by diploma, certificate or other
written verification from the school, and successful completion of the written
portion of the Department-established nursing assistant competency test.
3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Documentation of successful completion of a United States
military training program that includes the content of the Basic Nursing
Assistant Training Program (see 77 Ill. Adm. Code 395), as evidenced by a
diploma, certification DD-214, or other written verification, and successful
completion of the written portion of the Department-established nursing
assistant competency evaluation.
4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Documentation of completion of a nursing program in a foreign
country, including the following, and successful completion of the written
portion of the Department-established competency test:
A)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A copy of the license, diploma, registration or other proof of
completion of the program;
B)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A copy of the Social Security card; and
C)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Visa or proof of citizenship.
c)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Requests to establish equivalency shall be submitted to the
Department with accompanying documentation.
d)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â To maintain an active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
certification, a CNA must work at least one 8-hour shift within a 24-month
period, performing nursing or nursing-related services for pay under the
supervision of a licensed nurse.
e)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The home health or home nursing agency is responsible for ensuring
that the individuals who furnish home health aide services on its behalf are
competent to carry out assigned tasks in the patient's place of residence. The
competency evaluation conducted by an RN in the home health or home nursing agency
shall address each of the following subjects:
1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Communication skills relating to persons who are hard of
hearing, have dementia, or have other special needs;
2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Observation, reporting, and documentation of patient status
and the care or service furnished;
3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reading and recording temperature, pulse and respiration;
4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Basic infection prevention and control procedures;
5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Basic elements of body functioning and changes in body
function that shall be reported to an aide's supervisor;
6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment;
7)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Recognizing emergencies and initiating emergency procedures;
8)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The physical, emotional and developmental needs of and ways to
work with the populations served by the home health agency, including the need
for respect for the patient, his or her privacy, and his or her property;
9)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and
grooming that include:
A)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bed bath;
B)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sponge, tub or shower bath;
C)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hair shampooing in sink, tub and bed;
D)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nail and skin care;
E)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oral hygiene; and
F)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Toileting and elimination;
10)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Safe transfer techniques and ambulation;
11)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Normal range of motion and positioning;
12)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Adequate nutrition and fluid intake;
13)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Problem solving with individuals with dementia who exhibit
challenging behavior;
14)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Understanding dementia;
15)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Recognizing and reporting changes in skin condition; and
16)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Any other task that the agency may choose to have the home
health aide perform, as permitted by statute.
f)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A home health or home nursing agency shall not employ an
individual as a home health aide unless the agency has inquired of the
Department as to information in the Health Care Worker Registry concerning
findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property.