About professional training Training programs Web-based training View Education Calendar

About professional training

The Alzheimer's Association 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, social workers and staff trainers.  Programs can be arranged to fit your needs and be provided as in-services in your facility or care setting.  Additional programs are available.  Call 800-272-3900 or email infonc@alz.org for information about topics, fees and scheduling.

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Training programs

Foundations of Dementia Care

The Foundations of Dementia Care training program is based on the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes.  This hands-on classroom training allows staff to practice new approaches to dementia care through discussions, role-playing exercises and sharing of expertise.  Foundations of Dementia Care is a primary training program for orienting staff to dementia care.  CEU’s are available for each module.

Target Audience: Supervisory Personnel – designed for those from front line staff through administration. 3 hours

• Learning to Lead –  Improve team-building skills, motivate staff, and reinforce care practices.

Target Audience: Direct Care Workers 2-3 hours per module

• About Dementia - Overview of dementia, communication and behavioral approaches Enhancing Mealtimes - Increase food and fluid consumption
• Pain Management -Recognize and prevent pain
• Making Connections - Improve interaction with residents
• Resident Wandering - Prevent unsafe wandering and promote safe independent mobility
• Resident Falls – Reducing risk of falls and fall related injuries
• Physical Restraint-Free Care – Encourage physical restraint-free care

About Dementia - Overview of dementia, communication and behavioral approaches Enhancing Mealtimes - Increase food and fluid consumption

Healthcare Professional Training

The Alzheimer’s Association provides training programs designed for healthcare professionals from any setting including assisted living, home health, hospitals, medical offices, and nursing homes.  Topics include an Overview of Dementia, Enhancing Communication, Understanding Behavior, Activities for Persons With Dementia, and Problem Solving in Dementia Care.

Activity Based Alzheimer’s Care: Building a Therapeutic Environment – 6 hours

The Alzheimer’s Association has developed this training program with some of the nation’s leading activity experts in dementia care to support care settings and caregiving staff in building therapeutic programs.  Content and objectives are based on information and input from national focus groups, pilot programs, Association chapter representatives and other national organization.  This program is specifically for activity professionals.  Scheduled yearly.

What Participants Will Learn

• The fundamental components of Activity Based Alzheimer Care
• To effectively examine assessment and care planning
• To identify program design options and methods for implementation
• To adapt activities and the environment to better meet individual needs
• To evaluate new and current programs in a variety of ways
• To identify and implement the various aspects of teamwork

Target Audience

Activity professionals who have a basic understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and whose primary job responsibilities include activity programming design and implementation.

Continuing Education

This program is pre-approved for 7 clock hours of continuing education through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) and for .6 CEU’s through the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA).

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Web-based training programs

CARES: A Dementia Caregiving Approach

This affordable, Web-based program has six one-hour training modules that are geared primarily to direct care workers, particularly nursing assistants. Each module uses text and streaming video to illustrate how to best care for people with dementia living in residential care settings. Topics include:

• Clara Jones and her Care Team
• Introduction to Dementia
• Understanding Behavior as Communication
• Making a Connection with the Resident
• Eating Well
• Recognizing Pain

For a description of the modules, pricing plans and a free demo, go to http://www.caresprogram.com/

Dementia Care Training for Team Leaders

This program provides guidance for those who supervise others involved in the care of people with dementia: nurses, unit coordinators, administrators, activity directors or others in leadership positions. After this training you will be able to:

• Identify and implement methods to facilitate teamwork.
• Select and use improved communication and supervisory practices.
• Identify techniques and deliver meaningful feedback to members of your team.
• Recognize and create an environment that motivates staff.

This course costs $25 per person and volume discounts are available. For a free demo and to register, go to: The Dementia Care Training for Team Leaders site.

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