Free Training for Families
in Alzheimer’s or Other Dementias
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s – an incurable disease that is predicted will afflict nearly half of seniors over the age of 85 – can strike fear in the hearts of many family caregivers. Now there is help. Home Instead Senior Care® in North Dartmouth is offering a free training program for family caregivers, unique in the industry, that offers a personal approach to caring for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease at home, where 70 percent are estimated to reside. Until there is a cure, we offer an interim solution.
The Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE (Changing Aging Through Research and EducationSM) Training Program removes some of the dread associated with these diseases. The free CARE Training Program provides an innovative approach that helps families make the most of a senior’s life journey – including that individual’s history, passions and hobbies – in helping to manage challenging behaviors associated with dementias. The training we’re offering to families is the same kind of training our professional CAREGiversSM receive.
The Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE approach focuses on personalizing care to help keep seniors with dementias engaged in life and reduce behaviors that may lead to unhappiness. The foundation of the program is an approach called “Capturing Life’s Journey®” that involves gathering stories and experiences about the senior to help caregivers provide comfort while honoring the individual’s past. Since seniors with Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty with short-term memory, experts say, the Capturing Life’s Journey approach taps into the long-term memory. That approach has been shown to enable those with Alzheimer’s to continue doing what they can on their own for as long as possible.
The first training sessions will be held on Thursdays at the Home Instead Senior Care office in North Dartmouth located at 634 State Road, Unit A1 (please note the office is on the second floor and there is NO elevator). Classes should last approximately 1.5 hours. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all sessions. Please RSVP to 508.984.7900.
Class 1 – Alzheimer’s Disease or other Dementias – Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 4pm
Learn about the causes, recognize the symptoms, discover how they are diagnosed and understand more about the behaviors.
Class 2 – Capturing Life’s Journey – Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 4pm
Learn techniques to encourage sharing memories, become familiar with the Life Journal, and how to use it.
Class 3 – Techniques to Manage Behaviors – Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 4pm
Learn about challenging behaviors, techniques to handle them, and which one works best.
Class 4 – Activities to Encourage Engagement – Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 4pm
Learn about the benefits to staying active, the 3 types of activities, discover how to engage in those activities, and become familiar with late stage activities.
