Appendix H NJ Curriculum for Personal Care Assistants in ResidencesAssisted Living ProgramsComprehensive Personal Care Homes~3.pdf

The document is the New Jersey State Department of Health's curriculum for Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) working in Assisted Living Residences, Assisted Living Programs, and Comprehensive Personal Care Homes. Developed by the Assisted Living Professional Training Subcommittee in 1995, the curriculum involves representatives from the New Jersey State Department of Health, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division on Aging, New Jersey State Board of Nursing, New Jersey State Nurses Association, and providers of health care services.

The curriculum is a comprehensive training program designed to ensure PCAs are qualified to provide direct care to residents in long-term care facilities. The 85-hour course includes 69 hours of classroom instruction and 16 hours of clinical experience, covering topics such as core curriculum, psycho-social needs, physical needs, and spiritual/recreational needs of residents. The program aims to prepare PCAs to perform basic care skills, understand residents' needs, and promote independence while maintaining dignity. Successful completion requires passing both a written/oral competency examination and a clinical skills evaluation, with the goal of enhancing the quality of care for residents in New Jersey's assisted living facilities.