Staff In-Service

In-Service Training Programs
Our professional educators are available on a fee-for-service basis to train staff working in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, adult day programs, and home care settings. Each presentation is tailored to meet the specific needs of the client. In-service training programs range in length from two to twelve hours. Training programs can be used individually or in combination to meet the DHS requirements for staff training in long term care settings. CEU's and contact hours provided.

Activity Focused Care		Alzheimer's 101
Intellectual Disabilities and Alzheimer's Disease		The Best Friends™Approach
Behavior is Communication: Dealing with Responsive Behaviors		Breaking the Silence: Sexuality and Alzheimer's Disease
Forget the Routine		The Heart of the Matter
Home Health and Home Care		Hospital Staff Training
"I'm Not Difficult, I'm In Pain"		A Truth Stuck in Time
Also take a look at our Community Programs.

Activity Focused Care: An On-Going Process	3.5 hrs.
New federal regulations require nursing facility staff to deliver person-centered, person-appropriate activities. How do you have an activity program when there are two staff for 18 residents with a charge nurse supervising two units on the 3 to 11 shift? How do you accomplish the necessary tasks and at the same time, provide meaningful, relevant activities for the residents? This workshop answers these and other questions and is based on the presenter's 15 years of experience in long term care facilities with successful outcomes. It can be done! Participants will recieve a tool kit for implementing meaningful activities 24 hours a day with limited staff, as well as lots of practical suggestions for making it all work.
Fee: $60, pre-registration and payment in advance is required. Please call our chapter office at 207-772-0115 for more information and to register.


Alzheimer's 101: The Basic Elements of Good Care	8 hrs.

This 8-hour program for staff in any setting meets the DHHS guidelines for dementa care staff pre-service education. Modules include: Overview of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias Communication strategies Creating a therapeutic environment Dealing with challenging behaviors Activity Focued Care Family issues The importance of knowing the person Fee: $120, pre-registration and payment in advance is required.

The Best Friends™ Approach to Alzheimer's Care	8-12 hrs.
Maine Chapter staff are certified Master Trainers of the Best Friends Staff Training Program, developed by the authors of the Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care. This program has been designated as a "best practice" by the DHHS Division of Licensure. The training program explores the key components of the Best Friends phlosophy: A review of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias How what we already know about friendship can transform dementia care The experience of having Alzheimer's disease The importance of knowing the life story, personality, and personal preferences of persons with dementia Using the life story to deal with challenging behaviors The use of effective communication skills and productive activities in dementia care

Behavior is Communication: Dealing with Responsive Behaviors	2 hrs.
As verbal skills erode behavior becomes the primary mode of communication for a person with dementia. Instead of simply labeling the person as a problem, caregivers must learn to decode the message contained in the behavior. This workshop provides tools for understanding challenging behaviors and developing effective interventions.
Fee: $30, pre-registration and payment in advance is required.
Breaking the Silence: Sexuality and Alzheimer's Disease	2 hrs.
The need for affection and physical intimacy does not disappear with dementia. Sexual expression frequently presents a bewildering challenge for facility caregivers. The workshop begins with a discussion of caregivers' attitudes about this sensitive issue, acknowledging mores and values. Effective strategies and interventions are explored. Fee: $30, pre-registration and payment in advance is required.

Forget the Routine...How will we get it all done?	2 hrs.
How do you shift from the traditional task-oriented, schedule-driven approach to care to one that adapts to individual resident needs and preferences? Using real examples, this presentation shows you how to develop individualized plans of care and still assure that everybody is up, fed, bathed, and has their medications.

The Heart of the Matter: Developing a Therapeutic Relationship With Families	2 hrs.
As families struggle with the challenges of a loved one with dementia, it is imperative that facility staff understand the process. Family members join the facility team and become an integral part of the care plan process, but sometimes the connection becomes adversarial. How do you meet the needs of both the resident and the family? This program focuses on how to create positive, collaborative relationships. Participants will: Explore family dynamics Receive specific tools to improve communication Hear the stories of real families (on film and/or in person)

"I'm Not Difficult, I'm In Pain"	2 hrs.
This 2-hour presentation focuses on assessment and intervention of pain, the "fifth vital sign". "Oh, she just likes to hear her voice," was the explanation for Joan's whining. After a comprehensive medical assessment found nothing and then trying many interventions, including frequent snacks, it was learned Joan had a history of migraine headaches. Once her pain was treated, the whining ceased and staff increased their sensitivity to behavior as communication. Participants will learn a process for understanding what their residents are trying to say.

A Truth Stuck in Time... Communicating with People Who Have Dementia	2 hrs.
Many staff in long-term care facilities struggle with reality orientation versus telling residents the truth. What do you say when she wants to go home or asks if you've seen her mother? How do you respond to , "I've already had a bath , dear."? This presentation is designed to provide staff with effective communication strategies and approaches.

Developmental Disabilities and Alzheimer's Disease	3.5 hrs.
As people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities age, the occurence of Alzheimer's disease is about the same as in the general population. For people with Down syndrome, however, the risk is much higher. This workshop helps staff recognize the signs and symptoms of dementia, develop appropriate interventions, and recognize their own feelings of loss over their client's gradual decline. Fee: $45, pre-registration and payment in advance is required.

Home Health and Home Care for Persons with Dementia	2 hrs.
Professionals who go into the home have a special challenge when caring for people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Not only are private homes not always "Alzheimer's friendly", the person with dementia does not realize he/she needs care therefore resists assistance. Home healthcare professionals have to juggle a relationship with both the person and the person's family. This workshop will explore practical strategies for making these home health visits a success.

Hospital Staff Training	2 hrs.
People with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias face all the usual physical and psychological challenges of hospitalization. In addition, being in unfamiliar surroundings and with unfamiliar caregivers may produce anxiety (Why am I here?), fear (Who are these people and what are they doing to me?), or combativeness (Don't touch me!). The person is unable to adapt to these new surroundings and is unable to use a call button, find the bathroom, or follow directions from staff. This workshop will address practical tips for successfuly meeting the needs of this hospital population.




For more information about any of these programs or to schedule an in-service, contact David Currier, Manager, Education and Training at david.currier@alz.org or call 207-772-0115.