Home Health Aides (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and Companions are in need of more concentrated dementia information when they are in training. In many cases they have limited exposure to what Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are all about. Yet, if they are working outside of a secured, memory care unit, more and more of their patients are showing signs of some form of dementia. It’s critical, as the dementia numbers increase, that they are more knowledgeable about this field.
Not only do they need more exposure during training, but also once they are employed. Monthly or quarterly in-services are important if they are to keep up to speed with their counterparts. Updated information, improved communication skills and understanding the “ins and outs” of challenging behaviors are all necessary in order for them to be effective caregivers with their patients.
Education / Training Options:
I provide in-services (classes required within the industry) and certification training modules on the specifics of Alzheimer’s disease and the related dementias. Educational programs are specifically tailored to the needs of the staff and the particular patients in their community. Many facilities do not have memory care units. However, their staff will continue to have patients who have a dementia diagnosis or are showing signs of the early stages. They too are in need on on-going in-servicing.
Update: August 1, 2016
Since I began my consulting business in March, 2014, I have offered many in-service trainings for professional caregivers. My educational programs have been presented to health care providers and in adult-day programs, memory-care assisted living communities and nursing homes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Most recently this spring, I was hired by Hallworth House, Providence, RI, to provided 16 trainings to their professional staff, which included administrators, department heads, nursing staff, activities department, maintenance department and physical therapists. The topics centered around developing leadership skills and team building; the basics and specifics of Alzheimer’s disease and the related dementias; and developing purposeful activities for dementia residents at all stages of the disease process.
*** “I want to personally thank you for the outstanding series of dementia in-services you presented to my entire staff. Each hour session was engaging for all staff, from activities to nursing. The preparations encouraged active participation and you certainly managed to have everyone participate!””I can’t thank you enough for the time and effort you put into your dementia presentations. I look forward to seeing you next year and for years toe come.” Stephanie, Administrator
*** “…Your program offers not only education on how to manage the elderly population but also what to expect of their capabilities.”…The experience was not only educational but fun. Thank you for all your help and guidance.” Rosemarie, Director of Nursing
*** “Again I just want to personally thank you for the wonderful 8 weeks of training with you It was very interesting, educational, informative, and fun which made it even more interesting.” Beatrice, Assistant Director of Nursing
Fees:
DCPutnam Consulting fees are negotiable, depending on content, number of trainings and the length of each session.