Caring for people living with dementia was a top health and safety concern according to respondents in our annual member survey. And when asked in that same survey what health and safety topics people would like to learn about, dementia care was the second most popular topic.
Caring for individuals with dementia in a way that offers respect and dignity to the individual and enhances their quality of life requires specialized education and skills. This was the inspiration for us to create the Care and Connection on the Dementia Journey e-learning course, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society, and with funding through the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation’s Spark program.
This six-module education series, which learners can complete at their own pace, is designed to introduce people to person-centred care, dementia basics, communications, behaviour, working with families, and a section on manager resources.
The course was recently piloted by about 30 staff at Penticton’s Haven Hill Retirement Centre, and while they appreciated the content, the self-paced approach was appreciated. “The course was wonderful. It was a good reminder for staff who deal with residents who have dementia,” said Nancy Stewart, a care aide at Haven Hill. “It will help me to better communicate with my residents. I loved that the course was self-paced so I could work it around my schedule.”
Care and Connection isn’t just for frontline workers, all managers and leaders can benefit from the course. Shannon Coco, Haven Hill’s general manager had this to say: “Thank you to SafeCare for providing a valuable education resource for staff who are caring for individuals with dementia. The course was informative, easy to follow, and very helpful that it was self-paced, so staff could attend around their busy schedules.”
The need for dementia education is only going to increase. According to the Alzheimer Society, more than 50,000 British Columbians are currently living with dementia, a number that is expected to triple by 2050. Many of these people live in care or receive home support. We owe it to these individuals and the people caring for them to deliver the best possible care.
This course is free for the month of March! Begin your dementia education journey by registering for the course today:
