Florida In-Home Care Providers: What’s Required for DOEA-Approved Alzheimer’s (ADRD) Training?
If you operate a:
• State-licensed home health agency
• State-licensed nurse registry
• Homemaker or companion service
You are required to ensure that every employee and independent contractor who provides personal care or has regular client contact meets Florida’s ADRD training requirements under s. 430.5025, F.S. This applies to all of your caregivers, regardless of whether a client has a dementia diagnosis.
These requirements are enforced through AHCA surveys and follow Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) standards. Florida’s phase-in period ended July 1, 2026, so the requirement now applies to everyone on your roster.
The good news: compliance is straightforward.
ADRD Compliance at a Glance
| Step | What | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Give basic written Alzheimer’s information (DOEA handout) | At hire or referral |
| 2 | Free 1-hour DOEA training, watched individually on the DOEA website | Within 30 days |
| 3 | 2-hour DOEA-approved ADRD training for everyone providing personal care | Within 7 months |
Keep every certificate in the caregiver’s file. AHCA surveyors look for both the DOEA curriculum number and the DOEA trainer number on the 2-hour certificate.
Related: What Is ADRD Training? explains who needs it and the deadlines, and ADRD Training and AHCA CZ875/ZZ875 Citations explains what makes a certificate compliant.
The 3 Required Steps for ADRD Compliance
1️⃣ Provide Written Alzheimer’s Information (At Hire)
Every employee must receive basic written information about interacting with people who have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias when they begin employment or referral.
DOEA provides a ready-to-use handout for this purpose. Download the DOEA written information here.
2️⃣ Complete the FREE 1-Hour DOEA Training (Within 30 Days)
Every employee who provides personal care or has regular client contact must complete the free, state-provided 1-hour DOEA Alzheimer’s training within 30 days of hire or referral. Watch the training on the DOEA website.
It must be watched individually on the DOEA website to receive a certificate. Group viewing does not count. See our step-by-step guide to the free DOEA training.
3️⃣ Complete DOEA-Approved 2-Hour ADRD Training (Within 7 Months)
For home health agencies, nurse registries, and homemaker and companion providers, every employee who provides personal care must complete 2 additional hours of ADRD training that:
• Uses a DOEA-approved curriculum for the in-home setting
• Is delivered by a DOEA-approved trainer
• Is completed within 7 months of hire or referral
C-E-U.com’s 2-Hour ADRD Training for Caregivers uses a DOEA-approved curriculum (DOEA Curriculum #HH10743, Training Provider #HH10747), and every certificate shows both numbers. The course is $10.99, and the certificate is available immediately.
Take the DOEA-approved 2-hour ADRD training at C-E-U.com
The July 1, 2026 Deadline Has Passed
Under Florida law, employees and independent contractors working before July 1, 2023 had a transition period to complete the required ADRD training. That period ended July 1, 2026.
All in-home care employees and contractors must now be fully compliant. Review your caregiver files to confirm every certificate meets current DOEA standards.
Training completed before July 1, 2023 counts only if it is equivalent to the current requirement. See Is Your Earlier Alzheimer’s Training Equivalent?
Applicable Statutes & Survey Standards
Florida Statutes:
• 430.5025 – Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia education and training
• 400.51 – ADRD training for nurse registry and companion/homemaker personnel
• 400.4785 – Home health agency Alzheimer’s training requirements
• 400.506 – Nurse registry training and documentation requirements
AHCA Enforcement Standards:
• Core Tags (CZ875 / ZZ875): ADRD training and documentation standards
• G-Tags (Nurse Registries): G0151 – Required training and education & G0156 – Personnel and caregiver record documentation
• H-Tags (Home Health Agencies): H0204 – Staff training requirements & H0208 – Training documentation and recordkeeping
While survey tags vary by license type, the underlying ADRD training requirements are consistent across in-home providers.
Why Providers Are Reviewing ADRD Training Now
AHCA is actively citing ADRD training deficiencies. Many older ADRD courses:
• Do not use a DOEA-approved curriculum for the in-home setting
• Issue certificates missing the DOEA curriculum and trainer numbers
• Were not designed specifically for in-home care
Reviewing certificates now protects your organization from survey deficiencies and administrative action.
C-E-U.com Makes Compliance Simple
• Uses a DOEA-approved curriculum (#HH10743)
• Is designed specifically for in-home care providers
• Shows both DOEA approval numbers on every certificate
• Is self-directed and easy to complete, with bulk registration for agencies
Fast. Affordable. Compliant.