They Have How Many Hours of Training?

Betsy Hansen

It is my sincerest hope that you don’t find yourself asking, “How many hours of training does this person have?” But that is a possibility for your or loved ones in nursing homes if a bill before the Florida Legislature passes. 

Currently people who live in nursing homes receive a majority of their care — such as toileting assistance, daily bathing and grooming, dining support — from Certified Nursing Assistants, who are required to have 120 hours of training before being certified. A proposed bill in the Florida Legislature would allow nursing homes to substitute that care with Personal Care Assistants, who receive only 8 hours total training.

Permanently allowing this substitution of hours will greatly reduce and effectively eliminate the minimum nursing staffing hours in nursing homes and significantly lessen the quality of care provided to residents.

We need you to stand up for our loved ones, friends, and neighbors. Don’t let the Florida Legislature cut the quality of care that you or a loved one will receive in a nursing home. Fill out this letter and click send to your State Senator and House of Representative member and tell your them to the health and safety of residents first by voting ‘No’ on SB 1132/HB 485.

Thank you for joining our fight.

Jeff Johnson
AARP Florida State Director