Training program aims to build positive approach to dementia care

Health care workers on the Islandare learning new ways to helppeople living with dementia, thanks to a course offered by the Alzheimer Society of P.E.I.

The group offers a dementia care certificate program for health-care workers, educating them abouteffective ways to work with people with dementiaand ways to manage various behaviours.

The society's CEO, Corinne Hendricken-Eldershaw, said about200 health-care workers have been trained in the two years the program has been offered.

"We needed to move into health-care education," said Hendricken-Eldershaw. "People are very positive, they're grateful."

Hendricken-Eldershaw saidsharing skills andknowledge can better the lives ofpatients as well asworkers.

She said the organization does hear concerns from health-care workersabout violence in the workplace when working with patients with dementia, and with more trainingthere are often fewer unsafe situations.

"Once you have the skills, those fears really de-escalate," she said.

"Not all people with dementia are presenting in a violent way, but we need to be careful about that small percentage."

Role-playing helps

Participants at one of the courses recently held in Charlottetownspent a lot of time role-playing.

They learned about the importance of hand holding techniques, deep breathing to help ease confusion, and effective ways to speak to people with dementia.

Marsha McCabe isthe clinical resource nurse at the Dr. John GillisMemorial Lodge, a nursing home in Belfast P.E.I., andpart of her job is to train staff.

"It's important to learn the proper techniques," said McCabe.

She said there is a lack of understanding surrounding dementia, whichcan be challenging for residents, family and staff.

"There's certainly lots of things in the last two days that I will be able to take back to the workplace," she said.

Overwhelming work

Sara MacLean, dementia education co-ordinator for the Alzheimer Society, said the course is absolutely needed.

She said the groupworks with many families and hears about difficulties they experience, particularly whenit comes time totransitioninto a nursing home.

"We hear they see their family member in distress," she said. "It's all about bringing awareness."

"These peopleare literally living with brain failureand so it's all about trying to give [health-care workers]skillsto cue these people," MacLean said.

She said they want to keep people living with dementia and workers safe, calm and reassured.

Both MacLean and Hendricken-Eldershaw did extensive training to be able to offer the course.

"I love getting to work with different health-care professionals and seeing them learn new skills," MacLean said. "So that they feel like they can go back and actually make a positive difference for a person living with dementia and families across the Island."

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