By Pamela Mills MA, CTRS, CADDCT
Dementia Specialist / Educator / Care Manager
“Don’t just meet the minimum state regulations regarding dementia education … exceed them!”
The Option Group is offering a special two-day approved training for healthcare professionals to invest in their skills and abilities to best connect with people who are living with dementia. Healthcare and Home Support agencies can differentiate themselves in the industry, choosing to provide credentialed staff in dementia care.
The purpose of this program is to provide healthcare professionals who work directly with people living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia with specialized training to ensure appropriate, competent, and sensitive care.
There is a continuing need for professionals who are trained to provide the best practice in assisting and understanding people who are living with cognitive changes like dementia. Following successful completion of this program, participants are one step closer to receiving their Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP®) certification through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP).
The National Council for Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) represents the best practices in teaching dementia care knowledge with immediately applicable practice. This organization has been researching, writing, and annually updating best practices training for healthcare professionals for over 20 years! Their dementia care credentialing programs are internationally recognized and requested by most of the top providers across the globe.
Each training class is two days, with the next session occurring on June 24th and 25th, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Participants can join the class through ZOOM or in-person (with prior reservation and proof of Covid-19 vaccination) at The Option Group’s corporate headquarters in Hunt Valley, MD. Successful completion of the coursework requires participants to fully attend BOTH sessions.
The fee for the class is non-refundable, however, if a person is unable to attend class on a chosen day, he/she may exchange their paid in full reservation for participation in the next scheduled class.
The 14 hours of training in the subject of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia care, is inclusive of, but not limited to, the following areas:
a. A description of normal aging and conditions causing cognitive impairment, inclusive of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, risk factors, symptoms, associated health conditions, early identification, intervention, diagnosis, and treatment.
b. Person-centered Care and Culture Change
c. Effect of dementia on personal care techniques.
d. Depression, Anxiety, and overview of mental illness, treatment, and causation.
e. Nonpharmacological interventions for behaviors and pain management.
f. Explanations of and practical solutions to delusions, hallucinations, hoarding, and wandering.
g. Intimacy and sexuality.
h. Abuse and neglect.
i. The effect of cognitive impairment on expressive and receptive communication.
j. Verbal, non-verbal, tone and volume of voice, and word choice techniques.
k. Environmental stimuli, barriers, and influences on communication and behaviors.
l. Identifying and interpreting behavioral symptoms, risk factors, de-escalation techniques.
m. Problem-solving in personal care situations with empathetic, de-escalating interventions.
n. Understanding and creating opportunities for the therapeutic role of productive leisure and self-care activities, structuring the day for a person’s overall well-being.
o. Understanding a family’s needs and partnering for the goals of care.
p. Understanding the psychosocial needs of a person.
q. End-of-life care, including pain management and providing comfort and dignity.
r. Understanding grief and mourning.
s. Stress management, identification of stress triggers, self-care skills, and developing support.
All class materials are provided, including take-home materials for future reference. Class participants will receive all class materials and Zoom link 24 hours prior to the beginning of class. When registering, please provide the email that is best for you to receive the class link and written materials.
Register today, as tickets are limited! Go to: Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia Care Seminar (ZOOM or LIVE training!)
Pamela Silberman-Mills, Educator / Dementia Specialist / Care Manager for The Option Group has over 25 years of experience working in the aging services industry primarily with people living with dementia in their homes, Memory Care, Social Day, and Assisted Living settings. She holds credentials as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Dementia Care Manager, and Assisted Living Manager and holds a Master of Arts degree from the Erickson School for the Management of Aging Services at the University of Maryland. Most importantly, her heartfelt passion is for designing and implementing creative, insightful, person-directed services for older adults living with dementia, where each person can feel comfort, joy, and achievement. Her work has been published in Long-term Living magazine as well as adopted by upscale retirement communities as their corporate model. You will come to experience not just her passion, but humor and excitement in this class as you learn the best practices for working with people living with dementia.
If you or someone you care about needs additional support to help cope, The Option Group is here to help. Please contact our professional care management team for assistance.
About The Option Group: Founded in 2010, The Option Group’s compassionate team of experienced Certified Life Care Managers serves families, their loved ones, medical professionals, and professional family advisors in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The firm understands the challenges of caring for an individual who needs assistance due to aging, dementia, disability, or serious illness. Their skilled providers possess over 100 years of combined experience navigating the healthcare maze and accessing hundreds of quality resources. The Option Group helps families spend quality time with their loved ones, providing clear choices that lead to better care. For more information, visit www.theoptiongroup.net or call 410-667-0266 (MD) or 717-287-9900 / 610-885-8899 (PA) / or 302-858-6449 (DE).