Chances are, you didn't receive lessons on how to prepare for your care giving role. Like many caregivers, you learned how to care for your loved one through trial and error.

If you are interested in building on your care giving skills and confidence, we encourage you to look into the many Caregiver Training programs the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter has available.  Research shows that one of the most value services that caregivers can receive is education regarding Alzheimer's disease, guidance, care giving tips and techniques. Armed with knowledge caregivers are better equipped to care for their loved one, experience significantly reduced stress and provide higher quality of care for their loved one and themselves.

Chapter caregiver trainings are free of charge and can be provided in small group settings or individually.  Contact your local Chapter office to find out about upcoming trainings in your area or to request a specific training.

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Examples of Available Caregiver Training Opportunities Include:

The ABC's of Care Giving

The Caregiver Training Series

Understanding & Addressing Challenging Behaviors

Reconnecting With Your Faith

Responding to Communication Changes

Stress Management for Caregivers

Activities for People with Alzheimer's disease

Memories in the Making

Driving & Dementia

Safety In The Home

Putting the Happy Back in the Holidays

Preventing & Responding To Wandering

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The ABC’s of Care Giving (Alzheimer’s Basics Course)

This two-hour training is designed to provide comprehensive overview of information vital to all Alzheimer’s caregivers. Learn the common causes of memory loss, including Alzheimer’s disease; the stages of Alzheimer’s, the importance of a good medical examination; communication and behavior changes, caregiver concerns (financial, legal, emotional and physical), and safety issues. An overview of services offered by The Alzheimer’s Association – Florida Gulf Coast Chapter will be provided.

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The Caregiver Training Series (six-week series)

A six-part series consisting of two-training modules directed toward the questions and concerns of families and caregivers of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder.  The goal is to help participants adjust to the diagnosis and plan for the future. Modules varying based in the needs of caregivers attending but in addition to the ABC’s of Care Giving, examples of a standard series might include:

• Treatment And Research
• Legal And Financial Issues
• Care Options (Home Companion, Home Health, CCRC, ALF, SNF)
• Grief And Loss
• Caring For The Caregiver (Stress Management)
• Practical Care Giving Tips For The Home
• Safe Return & Preventing Wandering

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Understanding & Addressing Challenging Behaviors

Learn to recognize common environmental and emotional “triggers” that can lead someone with memory loss to behave differently than before and to behave in ways that can be characterized as challenging. Caregivers will be provided tips on ways to respond to challenging behaviors through the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Reconnecting With Your Faith

Due to their care giving responsibilities many caregivers become isolation and detached from what once provided them guidance and stability – their faith.  Caregivers will learn ways to reconnect with their faith communities and how Alzheimer’s disease can strengthens faith communities.

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Responding to Communication Changes

Addresses the challenges faced by people with living Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and family caregivers, and tips and techniques to make communication the least frustrating as possible for everyone.

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Stress Management for Caregivers

Learn to minimize stress by recognizing the signs using stress management techniques; know the health implications of unmanaged or undue stress and the importance of caring for yourself as you also care for others.Learn methods and techniques to handle caregiver stress in this unique workshop that can be tailored to your needs. .

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Activities for People with Alzheimer’s disease

People living with Alzheimer’s disease have not lost their need to be and feel involved. This training provides caregivers with an understanding of activity goals and types (physical, psychosocial, cognitive, spiritual, and creative). The caregiver will be provided insight into planning activities, how to approach them and environments conducive to success. Tips will also be provided regarding how to evaluate the success of activities.

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The Memories program provides a meaningful activity of expression for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory related disorders.  Through the Memories program, a person with diminished communication skills can express themselves through the creation of art.  Art is a very personal expression and many Memories artists choose subjects that recall happy memories of their lives, families and friends.  Training in how to conduct the Memories program is available to facility activity directors and family caregivers providing care their homes. 

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Driving and Dementia

What happens to driving ability in the disease process? When a person is diagnosed with dementia, the issue of safe driving is paramount.  When to stop driving is often one of the most sensitive issues that families have to confront.  This training will provide caregivers with resources to help determine when driving is no longer safe and tips on how to deal with someone who refuses to give up driving.

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Safety in the Home

There’s no place like home. Learn how to modify your home to make it a safer place for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.  This training will review accessibility to dangerous places, changes in vision and hazards it brings, identification of hazardous objects and substances and how to secure or dispose of them and how to avoid injuries during daily activities.

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Putting the Happy Back in the Holidays

The holidays are often especially difficult and isolating for Alzheimer’s caregivers – but who made that rule?  This workshop will provide tips on celebrating the holidays with your loved one with Alzheimer’s and their family, adjusting expectations to prevent disappointment, and adapting gift giving. Click here for a printable copy of 10 Holiday Survival Tips for Families Coping with Alzheimer's.

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Preventing & Responding To Wandering

Over 60 percent of those with dementia will wander at some point many do repeatedly. Caregivers will be provided with an understanding of why people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are inclined to wander and who is at risk. Tips on reducing the potential for wandering, steps that should be taken so you are ready should your loved one wander and what you should do if think your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease has wandered away. An overview of the Medic Alert + Safe Return program will be provided. Education programs targeted for the general community to increase understanding and awareness of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. 

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Community Education Programs

Ideal for community groups, faith based groups and professional organizations.  To arrange for a presentation for your group call 800.772.8672 or watch out education calendar for an open community presentation of interest to you.

Examples of Community Education Programs Include:

Alzheimer's Overview

Wandering & The Medic Alert + Safe Return Program

Helping the Alzheimer's Family (10 Ways You Can Make A Difference)

Faith Centered Care Partnerships

Maintain Your Brain

Support Group Facilitator Training

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Alzheimer’s Overview

Forty-five minute to one-hour overview of Alzheimer’s disease to build awareness for the general public

Topics addressed:
• An Overview Of Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease
• 10 Warning Signs And Symptoms
• Alzheimer’s Statistics
• Stages Of The Disease Process
• Caregiver Concerns (Financial, Legal, Emotional And Physical) And How Others Can Assist Caregivers
• An Overview Of Services Offered By The Alzheimer’s Association – Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

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Wandering & the Medic Alert + Safe Return Program

One-hour presentation for the general public to create awareness to the Safe Return program
Topics addressed:
• Ten Warning Signs
• Alzheimer’s Association Services
• Wandering (Definition, Causes, And Management Of Wandering)
• Overview Of Safe Return: How The Program Works
• Registration Process And Identification Options
• What To Do When An Individual Is Lost/Discovered

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Helping the Alzheimer’s Family (10 Ways You Can Make a Difference)

This presentation provides an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, the disease process and how Alzheimer’s impacts the caregiver.  Participants will be provided with practical ideas of how they can assist families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease to help lighten their burden.

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Faith-Centered Care Partnerships

Faith communities have an important role in helping families cope with Alzheimer's disease.  Faith communities are invited to learn how they can help Alzheimer’s caregivers maintain their important connection with their faith communities.  The benefits to caregivers and faith communities involved in faith-centered Alzheimer’s care partnerships will be explored.ink to calendar.

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Support Group Facilitator Training
The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter provides training and updates for volunteers interested in becoming a support group facilitator. To learn more about the Chapter's expectations of Chapter-based support group facilitators and training opportunities call your local Chapter office or e-mail milnel@alzflgulf.org

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