About Professional Education

The Alzheimer's Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter is committed to helping professionals improve their knowledge and skills, build stronger teams and deliver better care to people with dementia and their families. Our training and education programs are geared to professionals working in both community-based and residential care settings.

Our programs and meetings have been attended by activity professionals, administrators, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, recreational therapists, and social workers. Many of our programs offer CE credits.

As the need for dementia-specific services grows, we are faced with the challenge of developing staff that are well informed and prepared to deliver care.  Through our Learning Institute, we provide several levels of program participation and will customize training programs as needed.  Professionals can choose to offer/participate in education and training programs held on-site at their organization for all staff, in addition to off-site program opportunities.  Frequently requested training topics include The Basics of Dementia Care, Communication Techniques, Behavior Management, Enhancing Mealtime, Assessing Pain, and Safety Techniques.

For more information about professional programming, please call 973.586.4300.

Course Descriptions

TimeSlips

Storytelling is an age-old tool for self-expression.  The TimeSlips creative storytelling method helps people with Alzheimer's disease tap their imaginations to express their dreams, fears and longings.  By suspending the expectation to remember, these storytelling workshops invite people with Alzheimer's disease to hone what communication skills they retain.  Participants learn the meaning and value of creative expression, the storytelling method itself, and ways to use storytelling as a bridge between staff, families, clients, and their communities at large.  This half-day session is approved for three clock-hours of continuing education through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) and for 0.3 CE credits for recreation therapists by the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association.

Activity-Based Alzheimer's Care (ABAC)
Building a Theraputic Program

A one-day training program for activity and program professionals, Activity-Based Alzheimer's Care suggests that activities are the foundation of care.  Every event, encounter or exchange is an activity.  Topics include assessment and care planning, program design, quality activities, program evaluation, and teamwork.  The program also includes interactive exercises, case studies and discussion.  Each attendee will receive a comprehensive manual to use as a reference tool.  This program is pre-approved for five hours of continuing education through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) and for 0.6 CE credits by The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA).

Foundations of Dementia Care:  Learning to Lead

Foundations of Dementia Care is a new, comprehensive eight-part series to support residential care settings and their caregiving staff in building therapeutic programs and providing consistent quality care.  It is based on the Association's Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes.  These recommendations were developed from the best and latest evidence in dementia care research and the experience of direct care experts.  The Learning to Lead module includes strategies to build leadership skills and coach and mentor direct care staff on ways to take these lessons from the classroom to practice.  This three-hour session focuses on the basics of quality dementia care, empowering staff to become the team leader in the residential setting and is essential for any staff responsible for programming.  CE Credits vary by module and discipline.

Support Group Facilitator Training

This two-day training program is designed for professionals who want to support individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias by providing a safe environment to share feelings, concerns and information, and to help them cope with the disease.

The training program focuses on the fundamentals of Alzheimer's disease, common topics of concern/discussion in dementia-specific groups, and an overview of community and Association resources and important guidelines for facilitating a group.  In addition, group dynamics and management, facilitator roles and responsibilities and support group development and promotion ideas will be discussed.

For more information, please call 973.586.4300.

Current Learning Institute Agency Participants

The Association is pleased to recognize the following health care facilities for their committment to dementia-specific education and training through their current participation in the Learning Institute's Dementia Program for Long-Term Care, Adult Day Care and Home Health Providers:

CareOne at the Cupola

Chestnut Hill Residence

Francis E. Parker Memorial Home-New Brunswick

Francis E. Parker Memorial Home- Piscataway

Holland Christian Home

Jewish Home Assisted Living: Kaplen Family Senior Residence

Jewish Home at Rockleigh

The Country Home

The Regency at Dover

Woodcrest Health Care Center

For more information about participation, please contact Laura Holly-Dierbach, Vice President of Programs and Services:

By phone:  973.586.4300
By e-mail: programs@alznj.org