AGE-u-cate Training Institute Blog

Given today's staffing shortages and high turnover, let's set achievable goals for dementia training. After all, at the end of the day, don't we all want to be able to say, "the training works simply!". Of course, we do. If training works, that means it aligns with business goals and achieves positive outcomes.  

"The goal of any training should be to empower caregivers, give them the tools to work with, and be flexible enough with the material to honor the uniqueness and diversity of each individual you work with." – Dr. Rose Joudi, Aging & Ethnic Diversity Consultant. 

What does training mean? 

Training is the action of teaching a person a particular skill or type of behavior. 

In aging services, this means showing caregivers how to identify different scenarios and conditions to best care for sub-groups of older adults across emotional, physical, and other elements of health. In addition, training includes learning how a caregiver can take care of themselves in moments of stress and challenging situations. But is something else missing when we look through the lens of aging services and training trends? Let's dig into this a bit more. 

Although there is no one-size fits all for training, there are some guiding principles to keep in mind as a helpful guide:

1. Consider what your caregivers need to learn 

2. Identify and assess goals for training 

3. Weigh all available options 

4. Decide on what training best meets your staff's learning  styles 

5. Evaluate and gather feedback 

Utilizing these principles, the following steps will help guide you in an effective dementia training program:   

With NBA's basketball season in full swing and NFL's Superbowl around the corner, no one doubts the incredible impact a good coach has on developing both the physical and mental strengths that lead to the success of sports teams. Today, coaches are proving their value in a diversity of areas: Whole Life Coach, Communications Coach, Wellness Coach, Career Coach, Weight Loss Coach, Business Coach, and even Relationship Coach.

In the sea of dementia care training, leaders can be overwhelmed when evaluating options. This article provides practical guidance if you are just getting started in creating a dementia training program or if you are re-evaluating current practices. 

Before you learn the six components that define quality dementia care training, I'm going to discuss four fundamental truths: 

We Must Educate, Engage, and Retain Employees

Aging service providers are experiencing dangerously high staff shortages that impact the quality of care, employee retention, and family satisfaction. These together directly affect the bottom line. 

Studies reveal a correlation between the lack of investment in care team education and turnover, with staff reporting feeling ill-prepared for their work with older adults, especially those with memory loss. It's time for a change!

By 2050, the world's population of people ages 60 years and older will double (2.1 billion). The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million (WHO).   

Global communities face the complex challenges of an aging population that far outpaces the current capacities of healthcare and community services.   

Aging service providers across the landscape urgently need practical and effective education and training that prepare and equip the workforce, families, and those who, in any capacity, serve the aging population. 

Is one of your organization’s goals to invest more in learning, growth and development opportunities for team members?  Or to focus on the customer experience?  Maybe it's to be more of a resource for the industry? 

A key way to begin chipping away at any goal is to gather information that can support strategies to achieve success. 

Here are a few quick resources in these top categories: 

• Staff Training and Education 
• Resident or Client Engagement 
• Family and Professional Caregiver Support 

Staff Training and Education Resources

How Training has Evolved over the Years

Take a listen to a conversation between two industry leaders talking about training and education evolutions and strategies for success. 

(Make 2023 a Year Committed to Goals that Matter)

"Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant, and to face the challenge of change." – Martin Luther King Jr.

As a provider of care services to elders, you know all too well that difficult conversations with family members are a common course of business. There are many situations where a family member is unable to physically visit their loved one except when traveling or off of work or school around the holidays. Naturally, after not seeing their loved one for a length of time changes will have taken place, and this can cause a variety of responses – all of which necessitate a helpful and informative reply. The goal is to make them feel comfortable and at peace like after the first sip of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. How do you prepare for those tough interactions? Do you feel as though the conversations are effective and well-received?