From the conversations I have every single day with our partners, I'm guessing most of you would give yourselves an adequate score at best. And perhaps this is on a good day. "Empowering Your Caregivers" - some of you might just be asking what exactly I mean by empowering caregivers.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Training, dementia, caregivers, Dementia Live, leadership, Hospital Professionals, turnover
We have a family caregiving tsunami whose tidal waves are affecting every corner of our society. I venture to say that most communities are not prepared for the domino effects of a fast-aging population let along to provide support to their families that are scrambling to stay above water - emotionally, physically and financially.
Topics: Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Family Caregiver, Family, caregivers, leadership, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, Faith Community, family caregivers, support, National Family Caregivers Month
I have to be direct in asking - isn't this every elder care community's goal? After all, we should be in the compassion business, and sustainability is the hot topic today. Creating a sustainable culture of compassion - makes sense right?
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, compassionate touch, leadership, Hospital Professionals, Compassion, eldercare, elder care, sustainability, staff
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
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
It the first sense to develop in the womb and one of the last ones to go during the dying process.
Topics: dementia care, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Elders, compassionate touch, leadership, Hospital Professionals, aging, Anxiety, Healing Touch, End-of-life, older adults, Healing, Skilled Touch
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. This year, World Suicide Prevention Day will be observed on September 10. The following information will help readers understand risk factors and warning signs of suicide in older adults.
Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, leadership, Hospital Professionals, Mental Health, AGE-u-cate Training Insitute, Suicide in Older Adults, older adults
Research confirms that by the age of 40, almost 100% of persons with Down syndrome who die have changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Understanding this link and the challenges of a diagnosis of AD in persons with Down syndrome is important for families and healthcare professionals.
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Training, Family, Care Partners, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, leadership, Alzheimer's disease, Hospital Professionals, families, Downs Syndrome
By Sue Silcox, AGE-u-cate® Training Institute, Australia
Topics: Senior Care Professionals, compassionate touch, Dementia Live, leadership, Australia
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
