INTERACTIVE TRAINING FOR DIRECT CARE STAFF AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS

Continuing Education for Social Workers

About the Course

One of the key elements in providing quality dementia care is to understand Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and how changes in the brain contribute to different behaviors and communication limitations. Staff members who understand both the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and the individual resident can make better decisions about the most effective ways to interact and provide care. CARES provides an innovative learning experience for direct care workers and other staff who care for those with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. The online course provides participants with a definition of dementia and its impact on a person’s ability to function. Special attention is paid to the importance of understanding resident behavior as communication, making connections with residents, proper nutrition, pain recognition, minimizing falls, rethinking wandering, and restraints.

Who should enroll

The program targets beginning through advanced social work practitioners who are leaders in long term care settings. The content is applicable to practitioners of all skill levels, experience, and licensure category (LSW, LCSW, LISW-BSW, AAW, LMSW).

Social Work continuing education

Social workers participating in this course will receive 10.0 continuing education clock hours. Licensed social workers should contact their individual regulatory board to review current continuing education requirements to determine course approval. The Alzheimer’s Association #1153 is an approved provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Licensed social workers should contact their individual regulatory board to review current continuing education requirements and determine course approval.

Printable certificates will be awarded after the completion of an online course evaluation and post-test. Participants must participate in the entire program and must complete a program evaluation and successfully pass the post-test before receiving their certificate.

An additional fee of $39.95/person is required for each individual requesting CEU credit.

If you are not satisfied with our program, we offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

Course Outline and Learning Objectives

WELCOME

1. Meet Clara Jones
2. How to use the program

MEET CLARA JONES

1. List two examples of how to learn more about a resident.
2. Explain the role of a staff member as it relates to the team involved in dementia resident care.
3. State what each letter in CARES stands for.

INTRODUCTION TO DEMENTIA

1. Contrast the difference in features of normal aging and someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
2. List four thinking skills affected by AD.
3. List the different stages of AD and changes in a resident’s ability to perform an activity.

UNDERSTANDING RESIDENT BEHAVIOR AS COMMUNICATION

1. Explain how behavior is a form of communication.
2. Name the steps in the positive physical approach with a resident.
3. Learn how to accurately describe a behavior to others on the care team.

MAKING A CONNECTION WITH THE RESIDENT

1. List three things to talk to the resident about when building a relationship.
2. List three circumstances where you can easily make an interaction meaningful with the resident.
3. Apply the CARES Approach to making a connection.

EATING WELL

1. Describe the eating abilities at various stages of dementia.
2. List three ways to makes mealtimes more enjoyable for residents with dementia.
3. Apply the CARES Approach to helping residents eat well.
4. Describe the effect of poor nutrition on behavior.
5. Identify the warning signs of a swallowing problem.

RECOGNIZING PAIN

1. Identify the nonverbal behaviors and signs that suggest a resident is in pain.
2. List three ways that pain might affect a resident’s ability to do some things.
3. Apply the CARES Approach to recognize a resident is in pain.

MINIMIZING FALLS

1. Define a fall.
2. Identify factors that make an individual at risk of falling.
3. Identify environmental risk factors for falls.
4. Explain the importance of continually looking for falls risk.
5. Describe what to look for and what to report when working with residents at risk for falls.

RETHINKING WANDERING

1. Describe what is meant by wandering.
2. Describe why wandering occurs.
3. Identify situations that may lead to wandering.
4. Explain the difference between safe and unsafe wandering.
5. Identify a resident at risk for unsafe wandering.
6. Apply strategies that promote safe wandering.
7. Explain how to respond to a wandering incident.

RESTRAINTS

1. Describe what a physical restraint is.
2. List five consequences of physical restraints.
3. List three creative approaches you can use that might avoid the use of restraints with a resident.

Registration Information

To register, please visit www.caresProgram.com.

Contact Information

The Alzheimer’s Association maintains responsibility for the program.

To report grievances, contact the Director of Research and Product Development.

If you experience difficulties, please contact Technical Support.

The Alzheimer’s Association seeks to ensure that no individual is excluded from services based on different needs and abilities. Please notify the Director of Research and Product Development if you require special accommodations.