AGE-u-cate Training Institute Blog

Far too often I talk to family caregivers who are concerned about their loved one's cognitive decline.  It is not uncommon to hear such explanations go something like this:

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, Family, caregivers, Dementia Live, Hospital Professionals, family caregivers, Depression, families, older adults, health, Pseudodementia

What would life be like if you stepped into the world of a resident in long-term care?   Perhaps it would awaken us to the fact that they see things much differently than we do.  Maybe it would make us understand their experiences, challenges, and thought processes.  Do you think that we might be more empathetic?  Gosh, I hope so.

Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, Caregiver, leadership, Hospital Professionals, resident needs

Dementia Friendly Fort Worth recently sponsored Remember This, a participatory performance experience by the Texas Tech University School of Theatre and Dance.  Created and produced by Dr. Tyler Davis, Genevieve Durham DeCesaro, Rachel Hirshorn-Johnston, and Dr. Annette Sobel,  Remember This is about changing the conversation about dementia.

Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Training, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, dementia friendly, Faith Community, Dementia Friendly Fort Worth

Until a miracle cure is found to stop, reverse or drastically slow down the aging process,  the news flash of the day is that we will all leave this earth someday.  In our anti-aging driven society of wrinkle reducers and body re-shaping, the fact is that all of us are, shall I say it - AGING!  The question is not that we are aging, but can we age well through the challenges of aging?

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, Faith Community, aging, chronic illness, Age Well, older adults

Quite simply, the definition of personhood is the quality or condition of being an individual person.  At the core of personhood is the self- who we are are, our values and beliefs.  It's who makes us who we are.  Being able to recognize the "self" of personhood is key to understanding and practicing person-centered care for persons living with dementia.

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, dementia care, Person-centered, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, Faith Community, Person centered care, Personhood, Work

High staff turnover in long-term care is certainly not a recent phenomenon.  Going back to the 1970s studies pointed to average turnover rates for registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) ranging between 55% - 75%.  With growing demands for these professions as our aging population explodes, many providers are reporting upwards of 100% turnover.  Many factors need to be addressed - one being how we are preparing this workforce to work with the growing numbers of older adults with dementia? Leaders have many options for dementia training.  What do we hear most often?  Keep it simple and engage the learner!

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Training, dementia, leadership, Hospital Professionals, Employees, turnover, dementia training, Workforce, staff

Delirium is an acute disorder of attention and global cognition, including perception and memory, and is treatable.  Learning the differences between delirium and dementia is important for professional and family caregivers, as the diagnosis is missed in more than 50% of the cases.

Topics: healthcare, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, Hospital Professionals, family caregivers, professionals, families, AGE-u-cate Training Insitute, older adults, delirium, hospital

We are honored to be a part of the National Pioneer Network Conference kicking off today in beautiful Denver, Colorado.  Ushering in a New Culture of Change promises to be an enlightening and invigorating educational and networking event for participants and those serving the elder care industry.  AGE-u-cate® Training Institute will be offering it's internationally acclaimed Dementia Live® Experience and Compassionate Touch® Program to innovators

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Elders, culture change, Aging in the Workplace, dementia, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, Hospital Professionals, Pioneer Network, elder care, long term care, Work

What exactly is the meaning of Life Enrichment?  

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, dementia care, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, memories, dementia, Hospital Professionals, activities, life enrichment, Person centered care, Joy, Flashback Reminiscence Training

Although persons living dementia may have challenges with eating, such as chewing, ability to taste or smell food, or remembering how to eat, the dining experience can have a tremendous effect on their socialization, how much they eat and if the time they spend eating is enjoyable or frustrating.    Improving the dining experience is certainly possible, whether in a community-based setting, a hospital in the home or even in a restaurant.

Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, dementia, Dementia Live, leadership, Hospital Professionals, Mealtime, Eating, Dining