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Recently, Assisted Living Services, Inc. sent it’s Director of Hourly and PCA Services, Lynne Schmidt to attend a course and receive her certification as a Dementia Care Specialist. After the course, I sat down with Lynn to ask her about what she learned and wanted to share the information with you.
What did the course content and training entail? The course was an in depth look at how an individual with dementia, and specifically Alzheimer’s disease, views the world around them. It was an overview of the stages and progression of the disease and how each stage presents itself. There were workshops that placed the student in the life and mind of the Alzheimer’s patient. This was meant to give us a better understanding of how that person feels when dealing with everyday tasks as well as the frustrations they feel when struggling to communicate the loved ones or caregivers.
The course gave statistical information on the rise in dementia and Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the forecast for the next generation, which was quite eye-opening. The course also gave useful tips and training on how to approach, and manage combativeness, aggression, and depression in patients with the disease.
It was a very condensed program and it covered a lot of ground in the 8 1/2 hr. period. The instructor was very insightful. Although I have been in a field (Assisted Living & Homecare) that works with persons afflicted by the disease for 12 years now, and I have participated in other workshops, none compared to the intensity of this training course.
Can you explain why this Certification will benefit the staff and clients of the Agency? I think the benefits from taking this course were two fold. First, it gave me a much clearer understanding of the disease from the clients perspective which aides in the communication with families who are dealing with a loved one affected by it. Secondly, it gave me increased knowledge that I can impart to our caregivers who are on the front lines caring for and dealing with the challanges that our client’s face on a daily basis. I can certainly support them better.
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Lynne is the second member of the Leadership Team at Assisted Living Services, Inc. to attain this Certification. Last year, Mary Scagliarini, RN, Live-in Services Coordinator also attended the course. Congrats to Lynn and Mary!
To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care in Connecticut, view some of our previous posts on the subject, or visit the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association Website. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
