AMDA-The Society for Post-Acute and Long-term Care Medicine will receive $1.62 million in civil money penalty funds over three years in order to improve long-term care, the organization announced.

The money will go to developing a training curriculum and program to treat younger adults, ages 31 to 64, in post-acute/long-term care. The training will be provided to every Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certified nursing home in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and South Carolina.

The population of younger adults is the fast-growing population in the sector, and has different psychological, social, psychiatric and sexual needs from other post-acute/long-term care patients, AMDA said.

Aspects of training will include determining appropriate relationships with staff, treating conditions such as seizures, head injuries or alcohol use and understanding younger residents’ needs for support and services, said Rebecca L. Ferrini, M.D., MPH, CMD, the lead consultant for the training program.

“We are also seeing a growing patient population with brain injuries and mental illness,” she said. “Facilities have to be ready, because these patients are coming.”

AMDA said it will work with the project team to develop and test the training program in 2015 and deliver it in 2016 and 2017. A “learning collaborative” is planned in order for practitioners to share best practices.