Dementia training is serious business. As we grapple with the exponential growth of people living with dementia, aging services providers are looking closely at programs that will improve outcomes for their residents, clients, staff, families and support business goals.
The AGE-u-cate team has been hard at work since the launch of Dementia Live® in 2015 to deliver a program that meets the complex needs across the spectrum of aging services to serve better those living with dementia and their care partners.
Proven.
Integrated by over 800 organizations and agencies in the United States, Canada, and Australia, Dementia Live® has a robust value in the aging services industry. This evidence-informed training program is guided by science-based experiential learning and microlearning strategies. Placing the learner directly in touch with the realities of living with dementia, they gain more profound levels of understanding and knowledge and receive practical skill-building tools and techniques that effectively improve care and quality of life for care partners.
Powerful.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Dementia Live®Training, leadership, dementia education, dementia care training, Dementia simulation
Five Steps to Begin Elevating Your Employee Experience
For years, aging service providers have focused on the resident or patient experience. But, with staffing shortages at dangerous levels, leaders are quickly shifting their priorities. After all, the resident or patient experience is only as good as those providing care.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, leadership challenges, The Employee Experience
I truly enjoy hearing stories about how people have made their way into the world of eldercare. Many were inspired by experiences with older adults when they were young, and such is the case for me.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Careers in Aging, Passionate, eldercare
Remembering William (Bill) Keane: Always the Teacher
There will be a wonderful gathering of Aging Services professionals on Saturday, August 21 in Chicago to celebrate the life of our friend, colleague, and passionate advocate for dementia capable care, William Keane. Bill is one of the many mentors who shaped my philosophies and personal mission in eldercare, and I am honored to be one who will share how Bill continued to teach me, even in the later stages of dementia. In Bill's honor, I would like to share a snippet, because it is a reminder to all of us that wisdom still lives inside a person with dementia.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, dementia friendly, Senior Care Industry, Pioneer Network, Alzheimer's Association, professionals, Leaders, elder care, dementia education, Advocacy, Dementia Awareness, Parkinson's Diseases
Caregivers Hungry for Effective Experiential Dementia Training
The toll of COVID induced loneliness and isolation on our elders is still in research phase and will be for some time to come. Caregivers, too, have carried a heavy burden. Professional and family caregivers have endured equal if not greater effects of this long running pandemic. In addition to the fears surrounding the virus itself, as studies are released, we will be able to capture just how deep and wide the emotional burden has been to those caring for PLWD (persons living with dementia).
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, elder care, dementia training, dementia education, Dementia Awareness, dementia care training, Communication Skills Training
Why Quality of Life Training is a Must for Direct Care Workforce
Millions of older adults and people living with disabilities rely on the direct care workforce, and the numbers are growing at an enormous rate every single day. Sadly, we have undervalued the importance of the direct care workforce and ill prepared the critical need to provide quality of life and quality of care training. It's time to change the paradigm.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Training, Dementia Live, Aging Service Provider, Quality of Life Training, aging, dementia training, older adults, Workforce, Direct Care Workforce Training, REVEAL Aging, staff
Celebrating Older Americans Month - Communities of Strength
Each May, the Administration for Community Living champions the national observance of Older Americans Month. "Communities of Strength" is the theme for 2021.
I can think of no other time in that this theme could be more appropriate as we have witnessed one of the most challenging years in history. Older Americans have proven to be our source of wisdom, strength, perseverance and a model of overcoming difficulties. And I will add that the communities that support older adults have risen to the challenges of creating new ways to engage and build even stronger communities in the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by a global pandemic.
The health and well being of older adults, especially is grounded in connecting with others. It is paramount to the health and well-being of everyone, but especially as we age.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Training, Aging Service Provider, aging, Communities of Strength, Community, Older American Month, ACL.gov, older adults, support
How Can We Better Support and Educate Family Caregivers?
According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year, 65.7 million Americans (or 29 percent of the adult U.S. adult population involving 31 percent of all U.S. households) served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative. That is 65.7 million family caregivers who are desperately needing education, training, support and help with finding available resources. We must do a better job as these numbers are increasing drastically with our aging population.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Family Caregiver, Training, Family, Caregiver, caregivers, Aging Service Provider, caregiving, family caregivers, parents, aging, families, REVEAL Aging, staff, workforce training, home health
#KnowMorePD - Elevating Awareness of Parkinson's Disease
April marks Parkinson's Awareness Month and the theme the Parkinson's Foundation has chosen is #KnowMorePD to help elevate the public's awareness of the disease and to share the resources available to those who are diagnosed with PD and their families
Parkinsons's Disease (PD) is a complex movement disorder with symptoms that vary from person to person. Some of these symptoms may include tremors, slurred speech, a masked face, slow movement, and unsteady gait. Because PD is largely misunderstood by the general public and even healthcare professionals, it's often frightening to see a person struggle with these symptoms. And when people don't understand what is happening, they generally react by becoming fearful or avoiding that person.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Aging Service Provider, caregiving, #KnowMorePD, Parkinson's Foundation, Parkinson's Disease, education, resources, support
REVEAL Aging: The New Generation of Workforce Education
The Aging Services Industry faces a triple-whammy when it comes to workforce turnover and retention.
The first hit is the massive turnover that occurred and continues to occur because of the pandemic. Second, the turnover is on top of existing unfillable vacant positions. Thirdly, there are new entrants into the field who have no prior experience caring for older adults.
We don't want just warm bodies. Yet, providers had to scurry and pull from every corner to get to bare staffing requirements. Now, providers hang on hope that the good employees will not jump ship as the pandemic fades. What are we to do about this massive issue?
Much of the focus will continue to be on recruiting new employees, and rightly so. However, great attention needs to be given to how to keep the new, good employees. At the same time, it is critical to also maintain the spirit and engagement of the seasoned employees.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Training, Hospital Professionals, Caregiver Training, aging, AGE-u-cate®, education, AGE-u-cate Training Insitute, Employees, Pam Brandon, turnover, older adults, AGE-u-cate Training, REVEAL Aging