Reviewed by Scott Strachan, RN BSN
Quick answer: ADRD stands for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. In Florida, ADRD training is the official term for the Alzheimer’s and dementia training required under s. 430.5025, F.S., and administered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). It applies to employees of home health agencies, nurse registries, homemaker and companion providers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, adult day care centers, and health care services pools.
What Does ADRD Stand For?
ADRD means Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but the “related dementias” part matters: it covers other conditions such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia. Training under the ADRD label prepares caregivers to work with people living with any of these conditions, not just Alzheimer’s.
Florida’s statute uses the phrase “Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.” DOEA, AHCA surveyors, and employers use the shorthand ADRD. When a Florida employer, registry, or surveyor asks for your “ADRD certificate,” this is the training they mean.
What Is ADRD Training in Florida?
Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Forms of Dementia Education and Training Act (s. 430.5025, F.S.) took effect July 1, 2023. It replaced older, setting-by-setting Alzheimer’s training rules with one statewide framework managed by DOEA. The training happens in stages:
- At hire: every employee receives basic written information about interacting with people who have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
- Within 30 days: employees who provide personal care or have regular contact with clients or residents complete DOEA’s 1-hour training, which is free online.
- Within 7 months: employees who provide personal care complete additional hours from an approved provider. The number of hours depends on the setting (see below).
How Many Hours of ADRD Training Are Required?
- Home health agencies, nurse registries, and homemaker and companion providers: the 1-hour DOEA training plus 2 additional hours within 7 months, covering behavior management, promoting independence in daily activities, and working with families and caregivers.
- Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, and adult day care centers: the 1-hour DOEA training plus 3 additional hours within 7 months, which also cover group and individual activities, maintaining an appropriate environment, and ethical issues.
- Facilities that provide specialized dementia care (assisted living, adult family-care homes, and adult day care centers that advertise it): the 3 additional hours within 3 months, 4 more hours of dementia-specific training within 6 months, and at least 4 hours of continuing education every year after that.
Health care services pools must make sure their staff complete whichever training applies to the setting where they are placed.
Who Approves ADRD Training?
DOEA provides the free 1-hour training directly. For the additional hours, DOEA approves training providers and curricula and maintains a searchable list of approved trainers and curricula. Approved curricula are specific to the care setting, so a course approved for home health settings is not automatically approved for nursing homes or assisted living.
The training provider must give each employee a record showing the employee’s name, the provider’s name, the topics covered, and the completion date. DOEA has also confirmed to AHCA that ADRD certificates must include both the DOEA-approved curriculum number and the DOEA training provider number. For a full certificate checklist and how AHCA cites missing training, see ADRD Training and AHCA CZ875/ZZ875 Citations.
Why ADRD Training Matters Now
The phase-in period ended July 1, 2026, and the requirement now applies to everyone. AHCA inspection records on FloridaHealthFinder show surveyors actively citing ADRD training deficiencies against Florida nurse registries and home health agencies throughout 2025 and 2026.
Where to Take ADRD Training
- 1-hour training: free from DOEA. Each caregiver must watch it individually on the DOEA website to receive a certificate. See our step-by-step guide to the free DOEA training.
- 2-hour training for home health agencies, nurse registries, and homemaker and companion providers: C-E-U.com’s 2-Hour ADRD Training for Caregivers uses a DOEA-approved curriculum (DOEA Curriculum #HH10743, Training Provider #HH10747). The course is $10.99, and the certificate is available immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ADRD stand for?
ADRD stands for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. It is the term Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs uses for its required Alzheimer’s and dementia training.
Is ADRD training the same as dementia training?
In Florida, ADRD training is the specific dementia training required under s. 430.5025, F.S. A general dementia course does not satisfy the requirement unless it comes from a DOEA-approved provider and curriculum for your care setting.
Who needs ADRD training in Florida?
Employees of covered providers, including home health agencies, nurse registries, homemaker and companion providers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, adult day care centers, and health care services pools. The additional hours apply to employees who provide personal care.
Is the 1-hour ADRD training free?
Yes. DOEA offers the 1-hour training free online. Each caregiver must watch it individually to receive a certificate.
Do I have to repeat ADRD training if I change jobs?
No. Completed training transfers to a new covered provider. Give your new employer a copy of your certificates.
Does ADRD training count toward CNA in-service or nursing CE?
Hours completed under s. 430.5025 may count toward CNA in-service training and toward a licensed practitioner’s continuing education requirements.
Related Guides
- ADRD Training Requirements for Homemaker and Companion Services in Florida
- How to Become an Independent Caregiver in Florida
- Florida CE and Training Requirements