GOOD NEWS!! I plan to have my front-line staff dementia training video entitled "BRINGING NURTURING TO MEMORY CARE" videotaped this week. It will then take a couple of weeks to be edited and put into videotapes and DVD's, and I will be able to offer it to anyone interested in purchasing it. I'm excited about this first venture into such an unknown area for me. I believe the video will be about 3 hours long, and the outline of information is as follows:

BRINGING NURTURING TO MEMORY CARE

(1) Dementia Facts
(a) Over 40 different dementia types and what they have in common
(b) Most common types: Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Multi-Infarct
(c) Different dementia types = different behaviors
(d) Effects of aging baby boomers on dementia statistics

(2) Your "Objective" with this population: Maintain or improve the health, happiness dignity & safety of every person with dementia
(a) Based on the Objective--the needs you must see to in this population
· Why their needs are different--hydration; maintaining weights; activities; safety issues including falls; how to avoid negative outcomes with these special needs
· Looking at "Resident Rights" in a new light based on this Objective
· How your actions can easily be interpreted as abuse or neglect with this population
· Your actions determine the outcome for every encounter
· YOU ARE responsible if you are injured by a person with dementia, or if a person with dementia is injured by you during care

(3) The "skills" you must have in order to work effectively and safely with this population
(a) Nurturing, patient, loving
(b) Good work ethic
(c) Willingness to learn about your residents
(d) Resident oriented and not task oriented

(4) Common, incorrect caregiver responses to people with dementia (scenario)
(a) Treating them like a child
(b) Lecturing and re-orienting
(c) Impatience
(d) Anger
(e) Blame

(5) Communicating with impaired brains
(a) Your body language speaks louder than your words
(b) Get in their reality and out of your own
(c) Validate feelings and emotions
(d) Redirection vs. commands
(e) Offering choices

(6) Finding the "triggers" behind behaviors
(a) Examples of triggers for certain behaviors
(b) Triggers can be positive or negative
(c) Communicating with other team members for problem-solving and support

(7) Behavior changes in people with dementia
(a) Know the resident's "normal" behavior
(b) Sudden deviation from "normal" could indicate an illness or pain
(c) Depression and dementia
· How to differentiate
· Why it is important to have depression treated

(8) Specific behaviors, how to manage them, and possible triggers behind them
(a) Sundowning
(b) Pacing/fidgeting
(c) Packing repeatedly
(d) "Shopping" in other people's rooms or closets
(e) Hoarding/hiding
(f) Refusals to take medications
(g) Refusals to bathe
(h) Disrobing in public
(i) Suspicious/paranoid behaviors
(j) Agitation
(k) Shouting, screaming repetitively
(l) Sexual inappropriateness
(m) Repetitive questions
(n) Exit-seeking
(o) Combativeness

(9) Some things you should never do when interacting with people with dementia, and what you can do instead:
(a) Command or force
(b) Argue or try to reason with them
(c) Shame them
(d) Speak or act in a condescending manner
(e) Say "I told you..." or "You can't..."
(f) Talk over them as if they are not present
(g) Laugh AT them
(h) Take anything a person with dementia says or does personally


(10) Some things to always do when interacting with people with dementia:
(a) Greet pleasantly, smile, touch gently or hug
(b) Tell family one positive thing about their loved one every time you see them
(c) Communicate what works well with other team members, and to family
(d) Step away when you feel frustrated
(e) Treat the person with dementia with dignity and respect as an elder

(11) Conclusion

My seminar written for personal care home administrators and assisted living directors (and approved by DPW for 8 CEU's) entitled "Happy, Safe, Healthy & Dignified Residents With Dementia" is currently being offered in the following cities:
Monroeville, PA - Holiday Inn - Thursday, September 7, 2006 - $171
York, PA - Holiday Inn - Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - $150
Pottstown, PA - Quality Inn - Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - $164
Wilkes-Barre, PA - Hilton Garden Inn - Friday, September 29, 2006 - $168
All seminars include continential breakfast, lunch, snack and workbook
Please contact me to register to attend this very well received seminar!