Providing high-quality dementia care training can lead to significant benefits for both staff members and residents living with dementia. This training can lead to improved communication between caregivers and residents, a reduction in dementia-related behaviors and an increase in job satisfaction for staff members.
The Person-Centered Dementia Care Training Program offered by the Alzheimer’s Association provides comprehensive training for professional care workers. The program educates caregivers on current evidence-based person-centered practices to care for individuals living with dementia. The training program is designed for professional care workers in long-term and community-based care settings.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of recognized training options that will result in quality person-centered care for residents. Informed by leading dementia researchers and practitioners, our resources provide pathways to training and certification for individuals and providers. The available training options reflect the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations.
The purchase of the three-hour self-paced Person-Centered Dementia Care Training program includes essentiALZ, an exam that tests knowledge of quality dementia practices. Professional care workers who pass the exam are certified in essentiALZ for two years. This certification helps position organizations at the forefront of quality dementia care. Staff are able to handle the complex challenges that can arise in dementia care and to provide a more person-centered level of care to each resident living with dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association has recognized a number of dementia care training programs as reflecting the areas of the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations. Providers who use any of these training programs are eligible to purchase essentiALZ exams for their staff. Contact the company directly for more information about their training program. The recognized training programs include:
- AlzBetter Foundation Training
- HealthCare Interactive CARES Dementia Basics
- In the Know: Alzheimer’s Disease Specialist Training
- Welderly Care Dementia Professionals: A Practical & Innovative Approach to Dementia Care
Additional information about Person-Centered Dementia Care Training can be found at www.alz.org/trainingandcertification
