41919 Improving Communication and Care for Individuals with Dementia and Alzheimers Disease

Course overview

Discussion of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) including signs and symptoms, differences, causes, and ways to interact with people who have each disorder. Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are major healthcare concerns worldwide, having great consequences for individuals, their families and loved ones, and the healthcare system. Approximately 5.7 million individuals in America are living with AD, and by 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with AD is projected to reach 7.1 million. Direct care staff such as nurse aides and nurses provide the majority of care for older adults living in nursing home settings, and specialized training must be provided for these workers. In the state of Texas, nursing facilities are required to provide all nurse aides/assistants who provide nursing services in the institution at least one hour of training each year in caring for people with dementia. This program discusses major and mild neurocognitive disorders, including types, characteristics, risk factors, behavioral interventions, and communication techniques to enable nurse aides and other direct care workers to provide optimal care for individuals affected by these disorders.