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Approved Course Curriculum

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Training seminar / course must include at minimum, the following topics:

Overview of Dementia
Stages of Alzheimer’s
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Reversible / Non Reversible Dementias
Normal Aging
Medications Used for Treating Dementia
Tests used for diagnosis: FAST Functional Assessment Test, GDS Global Deterioration Scale, GDS Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Mental Test, Folstein Test
Stages of Alzheimer’s

Activities / Recreation
How to make activities successful, meaningful and purposeful
Sample Calendars
Importance of Exercise, Music, Reminisce, Sensory Program
Self-Recreation

Feelings
Responding to Feelings
Validation Therapy

Environment
Social Environment –staff, family, friends, visitors, residents
Physical Environment-walking Path, lighting, noise, stimulation, home like, clutter free, glare, safety, etc
Promoting Independence- How can this be achieved? Example brushing teeth.
What promotes a negative environment in a healthcare setting?

Staff and Family Relationships
Working together, stress felt by families, guilt
Feelings and Emotions
Challenges that families face with long term care placement

Stress and the Care Giver
Taking care of yourself as the caregiver
Signs of breakdowns with family members-alcohol, drugs, depression etc.
How you can nurture your spirit
Support Groups

End of Life
Feeding Tubes-Provide the Alzheimer’s Association position on feeding tubes.
Advance Directives
Do Not Resusiciate and Do Not Hospitalize if used by your facility
Dying Process and Supporting the Family / Care Givers

Multicultural Considerations in Care Giving
Be aware of other cultures, races and religions
Train the staff on Sensitivity Awareness to other cultures

“Every person is, in many respects, like all other people, like some people, like no other person.” Clyde Cluckhon Murray

Sex & Intimacy
Misconceptions about the elderly and sex
Changes In Attitudes-Teaching your staff about sexual expression
Positive perceptions about sexual expression
Inappropriate behaviors and what to do
Intimacy and connecting to each other
When Dementia is involved-Disrobing, Masturbation, Sexual Comments
Inability to express no to unwanted advances

Hoarding
What is Hoarding
Why they hoard
Make it purposeful, Ex., rummage drawers
Where they may hide things
What can you do?

Wandering
Types of Wandering, Example exit seekers
Identify Triggers to Wandering
Meeting Basic Needs & Emotions
How to keep them safe
Adapting environment
How to redirect & management of wandering
Policy and Procedures for elopement
Wandering Tools-Safe Return, Wander Guards, Alarms, etc

Communication
Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
Strategies to successful communication
Common mistakes we make

Repetitive Behaviors
Common Behaviors
Interventions for Repetitive Behaviors
Medications

Aggressive Behaviors
Causes of Aggressive Behaviors
Environmental Conditions, Physical & Medical Conditions
Anti Psychotic Medications & Side Effects
Interventions
Ways to avoid aggressive behaviors
Responding to Aggressive Behaviors
Catastrophic Reactions

Paranoia & Hallucinations
What is Paranoia and What is Hallucinations
Types of Behaviors & Causes
Strategies for Management of Hallucinations and Paranoia
Anti-Psychotic Medications & Side Effects
Sun downing: What is it

Recognizing Pain in the Person with Dementia
Behavioral Changes such as facial grimaces
How is the Discomfort Expressed?
How to get them to answer questions with Yes or No Responses
Assessing the Pain

Depression & Alzheimer’s Disease
Treatment
Medications and Side Effects
Signs & Symptoms of Depression
Interventions and Activities

Personal Care
Dressing & Bathing
Cognitive Changes
Breaking Down the Tasks / Steps
Specific Changes in Stage 1, 2 and 3
How to Encourage Participation
Be Prepared for Personal Care. Example- Lay out bathing supplies

Toileting
Causes of Incontinence
Cueing
Proper Toileting & Frequent Toileting
Hydration
Training the Caregiver

Nutrition
Nutrition Goals
Action Steps in Middle and Late Stages
Environment
What not to put on trays, anything that can be swallowed!
Memory Aides for Dining Room
Decreased Appetite & Increased Appetite, what to do.
Finger Food Menus & Independence
Reasons for Eliminating Sugar and Caffeine from Diet
Seating Assignment-How to group people together
Dental Care
Home Like Environment in the Dining Room

Sleep Disturbances
Possible Causes
Interventions
Medications and Side Effects
Nutritional Changes-Eliminate Sugar and Caffeine